"Bai Xiaowen, did Secretary Zhao mean he wants you to go to the Great Southwest now?" Xiao Jun asked.
"More or less. He probably wants the White Phoenix Team to scout the area and find out what's going on. Then the association can decide whether to bring in a top-tier team."
Bai Xiaowen smiled. "From the Awakened Association's perspective, it's a reasonable decision. Something big is happening in the Great Southwest, so they wouldn't trust an ordinary team with it. But sending an established top-tier team straight away might be overkill, and persuading one to move would cost them plenty."
Xiao Jun understood. "The White Phoenix Team is a newly risen top-tier team, right? So it would cost the association less to send you, and you'd still get the job done. But what you said afterward meant you don't want to be the first to scout it out. You'd rather wait until things are clearer and there's something to gain."
"Mm."
Bai Xiaowen smiled and tugged at Xiao Jun's braid. "It's not just me. Those established top teams would make the same choice. Once you've got the strength of a big shot in the Awakened world, you have to act like one. If they came to me for every little scouting job, where would my dignity be?"
"All right, tea for the big shot..."
Xiao Jun picked up her teacup and, after that bit of teasing, asked, "Your next match is coming up, isn't it?"
"Mm. Tomorrow. We're still in Competition Month, with about twenty days of matches left, so the schedule's fairly packed."
"I looked at the schedule. You're facing the Star-Moon Team next. Reports say they had a very successful Spirit Realm expedition half a month ago, and every member got stronger."
"Mm." Bai Xiaowen nodded slightly.
"Don't