Before the Arena, He Supports Xiao Wu

As the words fell.

The brocade-robed youth in the middle of the road saw his expression darken.

He stared at Xiao Wu, as if he hadn't expected a work-study student from Nuoding City to actually dare to talk back like that.

"You—"

He had just opened his mouth.

Su Chen had already stepped down from the carriage.

His boots touched the ground, very lightly.

Yet the surroundings seemed to go silent all at once.

The brocade-robed youth instinctively swallowed the second half of his sentence, shifting his gaze from Xiao Wu to Su Chen's face.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

His tone was not as aggressive as before.

"I was merely delivering a message for my young master."

Su Chen walked to Xiao Wu's side and raised his eyes to look at him.

"Are you done delivering it?"

The youth nodded subconsciously.

"Then get lost."

Su Chen's tone was very indifferent.

"And tell Zhou Ling while you're at it."

"Whether she leaves with dignity or not is not for him to decide."

"But if he loses too miserably today, he shouldn't cry either."

The youth's face turned a shade of green and white.

The guards behind him instinctively took half a step forward, then stopped abruptly.

Before they came, they had all been given instructions.

This one from Nuoding City was not someone to be trifled with.

The youth gritted his teeth.

"I will deliver your words exactly as spoken."

Having said that, he turned and left.

His pace was much faster than when he arrived.

Xiao Wu stood where she was, watching the group walk away, and gave a light huff.

"They sure run fast."

She tilted her head to look at Su Chen.

"How was my retort just now?"

"Not bad."

"Just 'not bad'?"

Su Chen glanced at her.

"The momentum was sufficient."

"It's just that there were too few words."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"Then what would you have said?"

"I generally don't speak."

"Then what do you do?"

"I just fight."

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"That line is better than mine."

Shen Zhi dismounted and walked to the front to lead the way.

"Don't dawdle at the entrance."

"They are already waiting inside."

Outside the Soul Fighting Training Ground, there were even more people.

Flags snapped loudly in the wind.

Guards from Suotuo City and academy instructors stood on both sides of the entrance, with wooden signs hung high, the names for the first match written in large characters.

Zhou Ling, versus Xiao Wu.

Su Chen swept a glance across the surroundings.

The spectator stands held more than just students.

There were also some well-dressed noble scions, arms crossed as they watched the show, their eyes filled with scrutiny and disdain.

They were watching Xiao Wu.

And they were watching him.

A work-study student from Nuoding City.

The Martial Soul Hall Holy Son who had been the subject of the most intense rumors lately.

This arena match in Suotuo City was no longer just an assessment.

It was more like a group of people waiting to inspect goods.

At the entrance, a middle-aged instructor in charge of registration hurried forward.

"Shen Zhi, you finally brought them here."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Su Chen, and he lowered his head first.

"Your Highness, Holy Son."

"The venue is already prepared, and a separate row has been reserved in the spectator area."

"Please, this way."

After finishing, he looked toward Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu is a contestant, she must go to the backfield to prepare first."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"Prepare for what?"

"Drawing lots, verification, changing into arena boots, and also—"

"No need to change."

Su Chen interrupted him directly.

He glanced at the training boots on Xiao Wu's feet.

"She will wear these."

The middle-aged instructor froze for a moment.

"But the arena has a standard—"

"Then change it."

Su Chen's tone was not heavy.

"Her shoes are more comfortable than the ones you prepared."

The middle-aged instructor's mouth twitched, and he immediately swallowed the second half of his sentence.

"Yes. Then we won't change them."

Xiao Wu looked down at the training boots on her feet.

Su Chen had personally retied the laces for her right before they set off.

The corners of her mouth twitched, but she said nothing.

Su Chen continued to ask.

"Is she the only one allowed in the backfield?"

"According to the rules, yes."

"Then that is no longer the case."

Su Chen raised his hand and tossed a small token to the other man.

It was the Special Recruitment Pass prepared in advance by the Suotuo Branch Hall.

"I am escorting her inside."

The middle-aged instructor caught the token and nodded hurriedly.

"Of course, of course."

Xiao Wu walked beside Su Chen, lowering her voice.

"Do you have to manage even this?"

"Otherwise?"

"I'm not a child."

"You are the one stepping onto the arena now."

Su Chen turned his head to look at her.

"This is no time to be stubborn."

Xiao Wu's earlobes flushed slightly, though she remained defiant.

"I'm not being stubborn."

"Mm."

"That 'mm' of yours sounds like you don't believe me."

"You heard wrong."

The backstage area was a long, narrow corridor.

The walls on both sides had been freshly plastered, still carrying a faint scent of lime, and the floor was covered in coarse sand that crunched softly underfoot.

The deeper they went, the clearer the roar of the crowd outside became.

It surged in waves, crashing against them again and again.

As Xiao Wu walked, her pace slowed slightly.

She didn't look up, keeping her eyes fixed on the bright exit ahead.

Su Chen noticed.

"Nervous?"

"Who's nervous?"

Xiao Wu retorted immediately.

The reply was quick.

And a little stiff.

Su Chen didn't call her out; he simply picked up a clean glass from a nearby table, poured half a cup of warm water, and handed it to her.

"Take a sip."

Xiao Wu took it and drank in small sips.

The glass was warm.

As the water slid down her throat, the tightness in her chest eased a little.

"Zhou Ling is level twenty-eight."

She set the glass back down and spoke suddenly.

"I know."

"If he's really heavier and tougher than I imagined—"

"Then don't meet him head-on."

Su Chen answered quickly.

"Isn't that what you've been training for these past three days?"

Xiao Wu looked up at him.

Su Chen leaned against the wall, his voice steady.

"Remember three things."

"First, don't let him corner you."

"Second, if you can't move him on the first hit, move away immediately."

"Third."

He paused.

"Don't watch his fists; watch his shoulders."

Xiao Wu stared at him and nodded.

"Anything else?"

"One more thing."

"What?"

"You are faster than him."

Xiao Wu was stunned.

The light in the corridor fell across Su Chen's profile, his features sharp, his tone calmer than usual.

"Speed, changing direction, close-quarters judgment—you are faster than him in all of them."

"Where he is stronger than you is in his level and his ability to exert brute force."

"So, this match isn't about whether you can take the hits."

"It's about whether he can even touch you."

After hearing this, the shoulders Xiao Wu had been holding tense slowly began to relax.

She stared at Su Chen for two seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Now that you mention it."

"I suddenly feel that Zhou Ling is nothing special."

"He was never anything special to begin with."

Su Chen raised his hand and flicked her forehead lightly with his finger.

"Go on."

Xiao Wu instinctively covered her forehead.

"You flicked me again."

"To wake you up."

"I was already awake."

"Then go up there and beat him hard."

That was too blunt.

Xiao Wu couldn't hold it in, and her eyes lit up.

"Fine."

"Just you wait and see."

Just then, footsteps echoed from the other side of the corridor.

They were heavy.

It wasn't just one person.

First came two youths who looked like lackeys, followed by a tall, broad-shouldered youth walking in from the other end.

He wore the deep red training uniform of the Suotuo City Intermediate Academy, with black bands wrapped around his wrists; his hair was short, and his brow bone was prominent.

As soon as he entered, his gaze landed directly on Xiao Wu.

"You are Xiao Wu?"

Xiao Wu lifted her chin.

"You are Zhou Ling?"

Zhou Ling didn't stop walking until he stood three paces away.

He first swept a glance at Xiao Wu, then looked at Su Chen.

"The Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, actually accompanying someone into the backstage area?"

Su Chen ignored his sarcasm.

"Go fight your match."

"Stop with the nonsense."

Zhou Ling chuckled.

There wasn't much goodwill in his smile.

"Fine."

"Then I'll be blunt."

"Xiao Wu, for a work-study student from Nuoding City to make it this far, you've already been given too much credit."

"When we get on stage later, I won't bully you."

"If you forfeit now, I'll let you walk off on your own."

Xiao Wu was so angry she laughed.

"Why does the way you talk sound just as unpleasant as that guy at the entrance earlier?"

"Is everyone in Suotuo City like this?"

Zhou Ling's expression cooled.

"You've got a sharp tongue."

"Don't cry later."

Only then did Su Chen raise his eyes.

"Do you know what the most annoying thing about you is?"

Zhou Ling looked at him.

"What is it?"

"Before you've even won, you talk too much."

The corridor fell silent instantly.

The faces of the two lackeys behind Zhou Ling changed.

Zhou Ling stared at Su Chen, the corners of his mouth tightening.

"You aren't going on stage today."

"Correct."

"Then you'd best not interfere."

"Do you even deserve for me to interfere?"

Su Chen's tone was coldly indifferent.

"If you truly have the ability, try touching her first."

Zhou Ling's chest heaved.

He had grown accustomed to throwing his weight around in Suotuo City, and this was the first time he had been suppressed to his face like this.

Yet, because these words came from Su Chen, he could not lash out.

He dared not lash out too much, either.

Zhou Ling stared at Xiao Wu and suddenly laughed.

"Fine."

"Then I'll let you see exactly how she loses."

With that, he turned and walked away.

His two lackeys hurried to follow.

Once the sound of their footsteps faded, Xiao Wu curled her lip.

"He looks truly ugly when he smiles."

"Mm."

"Is that all you know how to say?"

"Then let me put it another way."

Su Chen looked at her.

"He will look even uglier in a moment."

Xiao Wu was stunned for a second, then laughed until her shoulders shook lightly.

At the end of the corridor, a bell suddenly chimed.

The match was about to begin.

A staff member hurried over.

"Xiao Wu, get ready to take the stage."

Xiao Wu straightened up and took a deep breath.

Before leaving, she suddenly turned back.

"Su Chen."

"Mm."

"You'll be watching the whole time, right?"

Su Chen didn't waste words.

"I am here."

The two words were not heavy.

Yet, falling upon her ears, they were steady.

Xiao Wu nodded.

She turned and walked toward the bright exit.

She did not walk fast, but every step was steadier than the last.

Her Scorpion Braid hung down her back, and the Carrot Wooden Hairpin swayed gently in her hair.

It was like a tiny anchor.

It was also like the bit of confidence she now held in her heart.

Su Chen followed to the edge of the spectator area.

As the exit opened, the roar of the crowd outside flooded in instantly.

The Soul Fighting Training Ground was much larger than the grounds at Nuoding Academy.

The arena was a standard circle, its edges paved with Black Stone, while the center was covered in a layer of fine sand; it sank slightly when stepped on, just enough for one to gain leverage or slide.

The surrounding stands were already packed.

Zhou Ling had already stepped onto the stage, loosening his wrists.

He did not rush to release his martial soul, merely casting a glance around the arena, clearly relishing the sensation of being watched by everyone.

The instructor presiding over the assessment stood at the edge of the stage and announced in a loud voice.

"First round of the Suotuo City special recruitment assessment."

"Zhou Ling, versus Xiao Wu."

As the words fell.

Xiao Wu walked onto the arena from the other side.

The sidelines went silent for a moment, followed immediately by an outburst of discussion clearly laced with contempt.

"That's her?"

"A little girl?"

"Nuoding City must really be out of options."

"She's pretty enough, but I wonder if she can take a single punch from Zhou Ling."

Su Chen stood at the very front of the spectator area, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.

He did not speak.

Yet, the voices that had been gossiping moments ago inexplicably lowered in volume.

Shen Zhi stepped up beside him and whispered.

"Zhou Ling is familiar with this arena."

"Judging by the thickness of the sand, he was testing his footing here yesterday."

"Mm."

"Aren't you worried?"

"Worry is useless."

Su Chen stared at Xiao Wu on the stage.

"She has to win this herself."

On the stage.

Zhou Ling finished loosening his neck and stared at Xiao Wu.

"I'll ask you one last time."

"If you forfeit now, there's still time."

Xiao Wu stood at the other end of the arena, not answering immediately.

She simply pressed down with the soles of her feet, testing the firmness of the sand, before raising her eyes to look at Zhou Ling.

"You really do talk too much."

Zhou Ling's expression darkened.

Seeing that the atmosphere was set, the presiding instructor immediately raised a hand.

"Both sides, prepare."

"Assessment rules: stop at the point of contact, stepping out of bounds results in a loss, and malicious injury is prohibited."

"Begin—"

The moment the last word fell.

Zhou Ling stomped his foot, the impact causing the edge of the Black Stone to emit a dull thud.

His beast martial soul manifested instantly.

Two yellow spirit rings rose, one after the other.

His shoulders and back seemed to bulge, his entire frame leaning forward as he seized the center line with his first step.

Fast and heavy.

Cheers erupted immediately from the Suotuo City stands.

"Zhou Ling is on the move!"

"Crush her in one go!"

"Don't give her a chance to run!"

Xiao Wu did not meet him head-on.

She shifted her toes, tilted her body slightly, and conceded half a step.

Zhou Ling's eyes sharpened; he pressed the advantage immediately, thrusting his shoulder forward as his left leg moved to cut off her path.

It was the exact rhythm he had broken down and practiced over the last three days.

Forcing position, increasing speed, pressing the edge.

Su Chen stood below the stage, his gaze unmoving.

Just as Zhou Ling moved to cover his left leg, his fingertips tapped lightly against the railing.

On the arena stage, Xiao Wu's gaze seemed to have caught that rhythm a step ahead.

She did not retreat in a straight line.

She first feinted half a step to the left.

Zhou Ling followed, just as expected.

And it was in that moment of following that Xiao Wu suddenly pivoted, her entire body becoming like a shadow skimming the ground as she cut diagonally past his right side.

She was so fast that only a pink afterimage remained.

The cheers from the stands came to an abrupt halt.