The So-Called Grand Reward Is Giving You to Him!

The Inner Academy, Ma Xiaotao's private courtyard.

The afternoon sun slanted down onto the stone table in the courtyard. Ma Xiaotao sat on the stone bench with her legs crossed, slowly chewing a piece of dried meat she had taken out of her Storage Soul Tool.

Wu Ming, sitting opposite him, was upright with her hands on her knees, a stark contrast to her usual flamboyant demeanor in the Soul Fighting Arena.

Ma Xiaotao swallowed the jerky, wiped her fingers with a cloth, and got straight to the point.

"Wu Ming, what's your decision?"

Wu Ming pursed her lips.

She had actually been encouraging herself these past few days. The night she drank with Han Ruoruo, she said she was going all in, and after watching today's match, she felt even more strongly that she couldn't wait any longer to see Dai Huabin.

But when it really came down to the final step...

"I will try my best!"

Ma Xiaotao stopped chewing the dried meat.

She looked Wu Ming up and down, then scoffed.

That's it?

Wu Ming felt a little uncomfortable from her laughter, unsure of what to do with her hands, before finally placing them neatly back on her knees.

"You're usually so outgoing, you can argue with anyone, but when it comes to actually doing something, you chicken out?"

"Who's a coward!" Wu Ming retorted, her neck stiffening.

"Then tell me, how do you plan to 'work hard'?"

Ma Xiaotao emphasized the word "effort" very much.

"Should I bring him breakfast? Or invite him for a walk? And then we can chat about the weather and Soul Power cultivation?"

Wu Ming opened her mouth, then realized that she really hadn't figured out the specific steps.

"I... I can start with everyday interactions..."

"Routine contact?"

Ma Xiaotao slammed her hand on the stone table.

"Do you know how many women are around him? His fiancée Zhu Lu is one thing, but there's also that dazed Di Lingxi, two ice beauties, and Ling Luochen, who's poised to make his move."

Cui Yajie, that little fox, practically clings to his face, and Xiao Xiao tugs at his sleeve even when they walk. Wang Dong'er doesn't say anything, but they're just two pure, innocent rivals. Even Ning Tian has announced their engagement. "How do you compare your daily interactions with them?"

Wu Ming's face visibly fell.

"You're not encouraging me, you're discouraging me."

"I'm helping you understand the situation."

Ma Xiaotao poked at the stone tabletop with her fingers, little by little.

"What's your only advantage right now? Your age, looks, figure, and the fact that you're more mature than those younger girls. But these advantages will become less and less obvious over time, because those younger girls will grow up to be just as beautiful."

Wu Ming fell silent.

She's really not good at this kind of thing.

She can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Soul Fighting Arena, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she's a complete novice.

Ma Xiaotao's tone softened.

"So you can't dawdle; you have to get it done in one go."

How can we achieve this in one step?

Ma Xiaotao didn't answer immediately. She picked up the cup on the stone table, took a sip of water, put the cup down, pulled her legs back off the stone bench, and leaned her upper body forward slightly.

"Wu Ming, do you remember what I said on the stage today?"

Wu Ming thought for a moment, "You said quite a lot, which sentence?"

"Before the match, I told Huabin that there would be a reward if he won."

"I remember." Wu Ming nodded. "And then?"

Ma Xiaotao stared at Wu Ming, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.

That smile sent a chill down Wu Ming's spine.

"Xiaotao, stop grinning like you've stolen a chicken. Just say what you want to say."

Ma Xiaotao put her arm around Wu Ming's shoulder and pulled her closer. Wu Ming stumbled from the pull and almost bumped into Ma Xiaotao.

"This huge reward..." Ma Xiaotao lowered her voice, whispering in Wu Ming's ear, "Is for you."

The courtyard was silent for three seconds.

Wu Ming's mind seemed to have been paused.

"Ah???"

She pushed Ma Xiaotao away, took half a step back, and looked on incredulously.

"Xiaotao, what did you say?"

"I said, the reward for Huabin is you," Ma Xiaotao repeated matter-of-factly.

Wu Ming's expression rapidly switched between three stages: shock, confusion, and embarrassment, finally settling on a look that seemed to say, "Are you crazy?"

"Ma Xiaotao! What do you take me for?!"

"As friends," Ma Xiaotao said, shrugging. "Otherwise, why would I bother?"

"A friend is given away as a prize?"

"Don't you want to pursue him yourself?"

Ma Xiaotao countered,

"I'm creating an opportunity for you. Think about it, if Huabin knew that the reward he got after winning the sparring match was you, wouldn't his impression of you change completely?"

Wu Ming was stumped by this logic.

She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but then she felt that what Ma Xiaotao said seemed to make a tiny bit of sense.

No, that doesn't make sense.

"So how do you plan to 'deliver' it?" Wu Ming glared at Ma Xiaotao. "Are you expecting me to run up to him and say, 'Hello, I'm your prize'?"

"Of course it's not that straightforward." Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes. "You're so stupid. What I mean is, I'm creating opportunities for you two to be alone. I've already told Huabin to come find me to collect his reward before he goes out on his training. When he arrives, you'll be there."

"Then what?"

"Then it's up to you." Ma Xiaotao spread her hands. "That's all I can do to help you. The rest is up to you."

Wu Ming took a deep breath.

She lowered her head and thought for a long time, the blush on her face not fading.

Are you sure he won't think I'm... or that...?

"Very what?"

"Very unreserved."

Ma Xiaotao burst out laughing.

How old are you this year?

"Over twenty."

"You're over twenty years old, and you usually argue with everyone you meet. Now you're acting all coy and telling me you're being reserved?"

"That's different!"

"What's different?"

Ma Xiaotao stood up and patted Wu Ming on the shoulder.

"Listen to me. Huabin doesn't fall for the sweet talk and pleading. The more you hesitate, the less he'll care about you. Be direct and show him your attitude; he'll value you more that way."

Wu Ming fell silent.

Ma Xiaotao changed the subject, her tone becoming more relaxed.

"Besides, I have something even more practical to tell you."

"What?"

Ma Xiaotao sat down again, placing her hands on the stone table with her fingers interlaced.

"Do you know what Huabin used to help me evolve my Martial Soul?"

"You mentioned it before, it's called Blazing Gel."

"That's right. A whole block of Blazing Gel." Ma Xiaotao gestured to show the size. "Huabin said that if it's fully absorbed, it might explode, so he only gave me half."

Wu Ming frowned. "Half?"

"Yes, half of it is enough for my Evil Fire Phoenix to completely transform into the Ultimate Fire." Ma Xiaotao slowed down her speech and said each word carefully, "As for the other half, he cut it off and kept it safe; it's still in his Storage Soul Tool."