Zhou Ling First, See You at Suotuo City Arena

The training ground fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Wu gripped the letter, her knuckles tightening bit by bit.

"He's going to fight me himself?"

She raised her head.

There was no retreat in her eyes; instead, they burned even brighter.

"Fine."

"Saves me the trouble of having to step on someone else just to warm up."

Shen Zhi looked at her.

"Don't be so quick to lose your temper."

"Zhou Ling daring to change the first match to himself isn't just arrogance."

"He's also testing you."

Xiao Wu slapped the letter back into Su Chen's hand.

"Let him test."

"Do you think I'm afraid of him?"

Su Chen lowered his head to glance at the letter, folded it casually, and tucked it into his sleeve.

"Being afraid is one thing."

"How to win is another."

Xiao Wu took two steps closer.

"Tell me."

Su Chen looked at her.

"Since Zhou Ling dares to go first, it means he doesn't want to drag this out."

"He doesn't want a narrow victory."

"He wants to crush you head-on in front of everyone in Suotuo City."

Shen Zhi nodded.

"Exactly."

"His specialty is seizing the tempo in the first two rounds."

"He forces your position right from the start, then closes in for heavy pressure."

"Once he corners you at the edge of the ring, the rest of the fight will just be his fists."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"A power-type who likes to fight for the edge."

"Then I just won't stand near the edge with him."

"It's not that simple."

Su Chen kicked a wooden stick on the ground toward her feet.

"Watch."

He stood in the center of the field and gestured for Wang Sheng to drag over an old sandbag.

Wang Sheng obeyed immediately.

Shen Zhi also stepped closer.

Su Chen used the tip of his shoe to draw a circle on the ground.

"If Zhou Ling presses in from here, you cut outward."

"On the first step, he will follow."

"On the second step, he will increase his speed."

"On the third step, he will press your shoulder line to drive you toward the edge."

Xiao Wu stared at the lines on the ground.

"Then I'll change direction on the second step."

"Not enough."

Su Chen glanced at her.

"If you can think of it, he can too."

Xiao Wu was unconvinced.

"Then tell me what to do."

Su Chen bent down, picked up the wooden stick, and thrust it into the ground.

"Make him think you're going left."

"Actually go right."

"Wait until his center of gravity fully shifts, then cut back."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"Feints within feints?"

"Exactly."

Su Chen shoved the wooden staff into her hands.

"Before, you relied on speed and proximity to hit people."

"In this match, you need to learn how to deceive."

Xiao Wu gripped the staff and suddenly smiled.

"You just said yesterday that Tang San was full of tricks."

"And today you're teaching me how to lie."

Su Chen's expression remained unmoved.

"When it comes to enemies, it's not called lying."

"It's called controlling the tempo."

Xiao Wu clicked her tongue.

"Fine. You're always right."

Shen Zhi, standing to the side, took over.

"One more thing."

"Zhou Ling isn't just a power-type."

"His right hand has explosive power, and he likes to use his left leg to cover gaps."

"If you challenge his right side, don't get greedy."

"If you don't land the first hit, get out."

Xiao Wu looked at him.

"How do you know him so well?"

"I coached him for half a month."

Shen Zhi's tone was flat.

"I stopped teaching him later because I felt his style was crooked."

After hearing this, Xiao Wu's gaze turned colder.

"That's perfect."

"Watch me. I'll take care of him for you."

Su Chen didn't let her say more, simply raising his hand.

"Begin."

For the next hour.

The training ground was filled only with the sound of footsteps and short, sharp breaths.

Xiao Wu tried again and again.

Left cut, pause, feint, turn.

Sometimes she was half a beat too fast.

Sometimes she exposed her shoulder line too early.

Sometimes her footing was too heavy.

Every time she made a mistake, Su Chen spoke up.

"That was too heavy."

"Lighter."

"Don't look at the exit first."

"Deceive the eyes first, then the feet."

"Don't twist your waist all the way."

"Keep three parts in reserve."

At first, Xiao Wu would talk back.

By the end, there was nothing left but gasps and nods.

Her bangs were soaked with sweat, clinging to the sides of her face.

The newly replaced training boots stepped across the ground, the sound growing increasingly steady.

Wang Sheng and the others stood to the side, not daring to even breathe loudly.

They didn't quite understand the technical details.

But they could see it clearly.

Xiao Wu's movements were becoming sharper and sharper.

Shen Zhi stared at the center of the field, remaining silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

"She learns truly fast."

Su Chen gave a hum of agreement.

"She was always fast."

"Before, she was just too straightforward."

Xiao Wu happened to overhear and turned back to glare at him.

"Can't you praise me to my face?"

Su Chen said indifferently.

"Am I not saying it to your face right now?"

Xiao Wu was startled, then immediately huffed.

"I suppose you know how to talk."

No sooner had the words left her lips than she moved again.

This time, she first probed half a step to the left, deliberately lowering her shoulder line.

Immediately following, her entire body slid as if boneless, circling the stake to cut right before suddenly folding back.

Clean, crisp.

Shen Zhi's eyes flickered.

"That one had it."

Su Chen finally lifted his chin.

"That's decent."

After Xiao Wu stood steady, she first took two breaths, then lifted her face.

"Of course."

"Don't look at who's doing the learning."

Su Chen walked to the side and handed her the water bottle he had prepared long ago.

"Drink."

Xiao Wu took it and tilted her head back to gulp down a few mouthfuls.

The water was warm.

It was just right.

After she finished drinking, she kept holding the bottle, not putting it down immediately.

"Su Chen."

"Hm."

"If I really win against Zhou Ling in the first match."

She paused, as if asking casually.

"What are you planning to reward me with?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng and the others pricked up their ears.

Shen Zhi also turned his head to take a look.

Su Chen looked at her.

"What do you want?"

Xiao Wu had only asked on a whim.

Being answered so directly, she found herself momentarily stuck.

Her gaze drifted, finally landing on the Carrot Wooden Hairpin in her hair.

"I haven't thought about it yet."

"Then wait until you win to talk about it."

Su Chen's tone was calm.

"If you dare to ask, I dare to give."

After hearing this, the corners of Xiao Wu's mouth curled up bit by bit.

"Fine."

"You promised this yourself."

They trained until the sun slanted toward the west.

Shen Zhi handed over the list from Suotuo City as well.

It was a single thin sheet of paper, not very long.

Zhou Ling, level twenty-eight.

There were also three lackeys: two at level twenty-five and one at level twenty-four.

All of them followed strength-based and melee paths.

Xiao Wu scanned it and let out a cold laugh.

"They really are a nest of them."

Shen Zhi took the list back.

"They did this on purpose."

"Zhou Ling will enter the arena first. If he truly suppresses you, the momentum of those behind him will rise."

"So, you cannot lose the first match."

Xiao Wu looked at him.

"That sounds like nonsense."

"I never intended to lose in the first place."

When they returned to Dorm Seven in the evening, Wang Sheng and the others had already packed everything they needed to bring.

In truth, it wasn't much.

Two sets of spare clothes and some dry rations for the road.

Wang Sheng stood at the doorway clutching his bundle, his expression a bit tight.

"Boss, do you really not need us to go with you?"

Su Chen fastened his outer robe.

"You wouldn't be able to enter the arena even if you went."

"Stay at the academy and guard Dorm Seven."

Wang Sheng scratched his head.

"Then... then Big Sister Xiao Wu must beat them hard."

Xiao Wu slung her pack over her shoulder.

"Rest assured."

"When I get back, I'll bring you all snacks from Suotuo City."

A burst of laughter erupted in Dorm Seven.

The tense atmosphere dissipated somewhat.

At night, the carriage was already waiting outside the academy.

Shen Zhi led the way personally.

The carriage wasn't narrow; it was lined with thick blankets, and a secured soul-guide lamp sat in the corner.

As soon as Xiao Wu boarded, she pulled back a slit of the curtain to look at the night outside.

"How long does it take from Nuoding to Suotuo?"

Shen Zhi rode his horse alongside the carriage.

"If we travel through the night, we can arrive before noon tomorrow."

Xiao Wu nodded and retreated back into the carriage.

She had been quite energetic at first.

Only after truly sitting down did she realize she had overdone it during training today.

Her inner thighs and sides were aching.

She didn't make a sound, merely shifting her posture quietly.

Su Chen glanced at her.

"Does it hurt?"

Xiao Wu immediately stiffened her resolve.

"Who says it hurts?"

"Your legs are shaking."

"That's just the carriage swaying."

Su Chen did not argue with her, simply taking a small porcelain bottle from the cabinet beside him and tossing it her way.

"Medicinal oil."

"Rub it in before you sleep."

Xiao Wu caught it and examined the bottle.

"When did you prepare this?"

"Before we left."

"How come you prepare for everything in advance?"

Su Chen leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest.

"Because you always have a sharp tongue."

Xiao Wu clutched the small porcelain bottle, the tips of her ears warming slightly, and she did not reply.

After a while, she spoke again.

"Su Chen."

"Hm."

"Do you think Zhou Ling will regret it when he sees me go up first tomorrow?"

"He won't."

Xiao Wu turned her head immediately.

"Can't you say something I want to hear?"

Su Chen opened his eyes and looked at her.

"He won't regret it."

"Because he doesn't know he's going to lose yet."

Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then her eyes curved into crescents.

"That's more like it."

The carriage wheels rolled over the night road.

They did not stop for long along the way.

By the second half of the night, only the sound of light breathing remained in the carriage.

Xiao Wu hugged the bottle of medicinal oil and fell asleep against the cushion.

Even in her sleep, her brows remained slightly furrowed, as if she were still sparring with someone in her dreams.

Su Chen sat opposite her, not waking her.

He merely narrowed the gap in the carriage window to keep the night wind from blowing in.

The light of dawn brightened bit by bit.

As the convoy crossed the Balak border, the silhouette of Suotuo City could already be seen in the distance.

The city walls were taller.

The streets were wider.

Even the queue of people outside the city gates was several times larger than in Nuoding City.

Xiao Wu woke up quickly.

She rubbed her eyes, and the moment she saw the crowds outside, her spirits were immediately lifted.

"Are we here?"

"We are."

Shen Zhi responded from outside.

"Should we head to the academy to settle in first, or go straight to the arena?"

Su Chen lifted the carriage curtain and glanced ahead.

"Go straight there."

Xiao Wu straightened her wooden hairpin and took a deep breath.

"Alright."

The carriage did not enter the main street.

Instead, it followed a side path, driving directly toward the Soul Fighting Training Ground on the east side of Suotuo City.

Before they had even drawn close, sounds were already drifting in from outside.

Voices, clamor, and the muffled thud of wooden signs being struck.

Xiao Wu lifted the corner of the curtain to take a look.

The area outside the arena was already packed with people.

The flags were hoisted up.

On the largest wooden sign in the center, the ink characters were exceptionally striking.

First match.

Zhou Ling, versus Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu stared at those characters, her gaze turning cold bit by bit.

Just as she was about to step off the carriage, someone suddenly blocked the caravan outside.

A youth dressed in a brocade robe stood in the middle of the road, followed by four or five guards from Suotuo City.

He did not approach the carriage, merely folding his arms and lifting his chin.

"The people from Nuoding City have arrived?"

"My young master told me to bring a message."

Shen Zhi's expression darkened.

"Speak."

The youth sneered, his gaze deliberately sweeping toward the inside of the carriage.

"If that girl named Xiao Wu is afraid now, there is still time."

"As long as she admits in public that she isn't worthy of standing on the Suotuo City arena, my young master can let her leave the stage with some dignity."

The carriage curtain was lifted from the inside by a hand.

Xiao Wu jumped straight off the carriage.

She stood before the carriage shaft, her scorpion braid hanging down her back, her eyes fixed directly on the youth.

"Go back and tell Zhou Ling."

"Don't be in such a rush to save face for others."

"He should save his own first."