Answering the Challenge, the Shy Little Fox

The class bell rang, and Hu Liena and Shang An walked out of the classroom side by side, chatting and laughing.

A figure dressed entirely in fiery red blocked their path. It was none other than Yan, the simp.

Yan looked at Shang An and said,

"You're Nana's junior brother?"

Before Shang An could say anything, Hu Liena stepped forward first.

"Yan, didn't I tell you not to call me Nana?"

"And what do you want with my junior brother?"

Hearing Hu Liena's words, Yan instinctively softened his tone.

"Na..."

Hu Liena narrowed her delicate brows.

"Yes?"

"Fine, Hu Liena. I'm here to challenge your junior brother."

Yan gave an awkward smile before fixing Shang An with a burning gaze.

"Do you dare fight me in the Soul Fighting Arena?"

"What?! Yan, how can you have the nerve!"

Hu Liena flew into a rage.

"You're already thirteen, while Xiao An is only six. How could you possibly have the nerve to challenge him?"

Seeing Hu Liena angry, Yan felt that he had acted somewhat impulsively. He had actually challenged a six-year-old child. Xie Yue, standing nearby, covered his face as well.

"I can accept your challenge."

At that moment, Shang An stepped forward.

"But since you want to challenge me, there should at least be a wager. Otherwise, wouldn't any random nobody be able to come challenge me?"

"Junior brother, you..."

Shang An interrupted Hu Liena.

"Senior sister, do you trust me?"

"Fine, but you have to be careful, junior brother."

Hu Liena naturally understood Shang An's strength. Yan was no match for him. Her earlier reaction had merely been an instinctive urge to protect Shang An. Xie Yue, however, was rather surprised. Yan had cultivated for seven more years than Shang An!

"Fine. Then tell me, what do you want?"

When Yan heard Shang An agree, his eyes lit up. He could finally teach this brat a proper lesson.

"I want you to stop bothering Nana."

"Fine. Then if you lose, stay away from Na... Hu Liena too."

Shang An shook his head.

"You're the one challenging me, not the other way around."

Naturally, Shang An would not agree. Even if he refused the challenge, Yan would never be able to win Hu Liena away from him.

Yan gritted his teeth. Shang An was only a six-year-old child; there was no way he could lose.

"Fine, I agree!"

"Then let's go now. I still need to have dinner with Nana later."

With that, Shang An took Hu Liena's hand and led the way toward the Soul Fighting Area.

Xie Yue quickly followed after them, while Yan walked at the back, secretly fuming. Dinner? I'll make you eat at the infirmary.

When they arrived at the fighting platform, they spoke with the staff. Upon learning that Class A-1's genius Yan was taking part in a Soul Fight, the staff quickly arranged for them to cut in line.

The two stepped onto the arena.

Whispers rose from below.

"Who are those two? Wasn't the next match supposed to be Li Hu versus Cheng Gang?"

"That red-haired one is Class A-1's genius Yan. I don't know the other one."

"Anyone who can fight Yan must be extraordinary too."

"But he looks so young!"

"Maybe he just has a baby face."

"I know him. He's Hu Liena's junior brother, the Pope's newly accepted disciple."

"Gasp, the Pope's disciple!"

Yan and Shang An took their places on the platform as the referee spoke from the side.

"Both contestants, please release your Martial Souls."

"The rules are simple: stop at the right moment. No taking lives."

Yan was the first to release his Martial Soul. Two yellow and one purple Spirit Rings encircled a towering fiery-red giant. A magma-like substance flowed across the giant's body, making it look utterly terrifying.

"Yan. Martial Soul: Flame Lord. Level 32 assault-type battle Soul Elder."

Shang An did not immediately release his Martial Soul. Instead, he spoke with a teasing smile.

"Shang An. Martial Soul: Taiyi Bead. Level 27 control-type battle Spirit Master."

Yan was initially startled by Shang An's strength, but delight soon flashed through his eyes. He was five levels higher and had one more Spirit Ring. This was in the bag!

Shang An might have great potential, but for now, he would still fall beneath Yan's hands!

Then Yan was dumbfounded.

"How is that possible?!"

Yan wondered whether his eyes were playing tricks on him. How could someone's first Spirit Ring possibly be a thousand-year Spirit Ring?

The spectators below were equally shocked.

Xie Yue looked at Hu Liena, whose expression remained calm.

"Nana, did you know about this all along?"

"Of course. I watched junior brother obtain those Spirit Rings myself."

Hu Liena said proudly.

"Junior brother's strength is far beyond Yan's."

The corner of Xie Yue's mouth twitched. Looking at his little sister, who resembled an obsessed fan, he silently mourned for his good brother for three seconds. It seemed Yan had no chance at all.

"There's nothing impossible about it. You're simply too ignorant."

Yan gradually calmed down. After all, he was a genius himself and possessed a decent mindset. Determination filled his eyes.

"Come on. Defeat me, and Nana will be yours."

"It makes no difference whether we fight or not. Besides, Nana isn't anyone's possession."

Shang An retorted.

Sure enough, Hu Liena's eyes below the stage filled with delight when she heard Shang An's words. Junior brother really does have feelings for me. And he even called me Nana.

Shang An glanced at Hu Liena without changing his expression. The line might be old, but if it worked, it worked.

"Humph!"

Yan launched the first attack.

Shang An focused his mind. Then, his First Spirit Skill and Second Spirit Skill lit up. Purple light blazed brilliantly as the Taiyi Bead transformed into the Taiyi Staff, divine radiance bursting from its tip.

"Hell Magma Rush!"

A massive ball of magma came crashing toward him, wrinkling the surrounding air with its intense heat.

Shang An did not confront it head-on. With his physique, he could not withstand a Spirit Skill directly without using his External Soul Bone.

Using the Tiangang Bagua Steps, he deftly shifted aside and avoided the attack.

Yan had never expected his First Spirit Skill to seriously injure Shang An. He lunged forward, rapidly closing the distance between them as his Third Spirit Ring flashed.

"Third Spirit Skill, Hell Flames!"

Surging flames swept toward Shang An. A delighted smile had already appeared on Yan's face. This brat really lacked combat experience. That staff clearly looked like a long-range Martial Soul, and now that Yan had gotten close, victory was decided. Victory was decided!

"Nana, it looks like your junior brother is about to lose."

Xie Yue shared Yan's thoughts.

"Humph, not necessarily. You're both underestimating junior brother."

Xie Yue shook his head. Why did this girl trust Shang An so much? Even he, her older brother, felt a little jealous.

Their words could not affect the two people on the platform.

Shang An retreated, seemingly barely evading the strike. Yan pressed his advantage and continued driving his Spirit Skill forward.

"Hell Flames!"

Closer. Closer.

"Bang!"

Yan's vision went black, and he collapsed onto the platform. The smile of anticipated victory still hung at the corner of his mouth.

Many spectators in the stands were utterly confused. They had no idea why Yan, who had just been suppressing Shang An, had suddenly fallen. Those with greater strength, however, wore solemn expressions.

"Shang An just swiftly sidestepped Yan's attack, then struck Yan on the head with his staff."

"With that kind of speed, he's no weaker than an agility-type battle Soul Elder."

"And Yan was far too careless."

"Even if Yan hadn't been careless, he still wouldn't have been Shang An's match. His speed is too fast, his control over his force is precise, and then there's that strange footwork."

"As expected of the Pope's disciple!"

The referee stepped onto the stage and announced Shang An's victory. He then had the unconscious Yan carried away and summoned a healing-type Spirit Master to treat him.

Shang An walked off the stage, looked at Hu Liena below, and held out his hand.

"Nana, let's go."

"I'm your senior sister."

Hu Liena said stiffly, then unceremoniously took Shang An's hand and headed outside with him.

Xie Yue stood beneath the platform, looking at Hu Liena holding Shang An's hand as she walked away, then at Yan lying on the ground. He hesitated and struggled for a moment before ultimately running after Hu Liena, silently chanting, Yan, sorry about this.

"Junior brother."

"Mm? What is it?"

"Junior brother, actually, your senior sister can be yours too."

The moment she said it, Hu Liena's cheeks flushed red. She lowered her head deeply, not daring to look at Shang An beside her.

"What did senior sister say?"

Shang An teased.

"N-Nothing."

She pulled her hand away and turned to leave. That one sentence had already exhausted all of Hu Liena's courage.

"Haha, I'm not teasing you anymore."

Shang An walked side by side with Hu Liena. However, because Shang An was currently half a head shorter than Hu Liena, the two looked rather peculiar together.

"Nana, from now on, you'll be my exclusive little fox."

"What do you mean, exclusive little fox? That's so embarrassing."

Hu Liena said shyly.

"You can only be mine!" Shang An declared domineeringly.

Hu Liena's heart trembled.

"You're so domineering. I like it so much."

Looking at the shy little fox, Shang An found her especially amusing and held Hu Liena's hand a little tighter.

In truth, Shang An had said those words because he had sensed Hu Liena's Seed of Heart. That was right—it was a Seed of Heart that Hu Liena had formed on her own.

Shang An's Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Primordial Spirit gathered Psychic Power. If someone developed feelings such as affection or loyalty toward Shang An, it would draw forth a trace of Psychic Power, which would naturally condense into a Seed of Heart within that person's heart.

(Reposted it once.)