Plans After the Holiday

Lin Yi froze when he heard that.

Did Little Rabbit know I was faking unconsciousness?

Was my eyelid twitching too obviously just now?

His thoughts raced, but he could not figure out how Xiao Wu had seen through his act.

But since he had been exposed, there was no point in continuing to pretend.

More importantly, he was genuinely afraid of being taken to Teacher Yuan for a needle.

"Ugh... my head hurts so much." Lin Yi groaned and slowly opened his eyes, pretending that he had just woken up. "Tang San really didn't know how to hold back."

Wang Sheng stopped walking and chuckled. "Lin Yi, you're awake?"

Lin Yi jumped down from Wang Sheng's back and theatrically rubbed the back of his head. "Where were you planning to take me?"

That acting should have looked natural enough, right?

Wang Sheng grinned at him.

Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips, smiling faintly. "You woke up just in time. A little later, and Teacher Yuan would have been giving you a needle."

Lin Yi felt somewhat awkward and tried to hide his guilty conscience with a smile. "Haha, I guess I'm just lucky. I recovered on my own, so why bother Teacher Yuan?"

Why are they looking at me so strangely? It's like they saw through my act.

That shouldn't be possible. Even Teacher Zhang didn't see through my acting. They shouldn't know.

Hearing Lin Yi's Heart Voice, Xiao Wu suppressed a laugh. "Are you really all right? Maybe Teacher Yuan should still take a look, just in case you have internal injuries?"

"No, no need." Lin Yi waved his hands repeatedly and changed the subject. "Your matches aren't over yet. Hurry back so you don't miss the competition."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at him, but she did not expose him. She merely said, "Since you're fine, let's go back."

The three of them headed back together. Lin Yi followed behind them, still pondering what had happened.

Still, Tang San controlled the strength of that Blue Silver Grass Entangle really well. He was clearly holding back and didn't actually want to hurt me.

That fits his early characterization.

Too bad, Tang San. I really am just an ordinary support-type Soul Master. No matter how much you probe, you won't find anything.

Walking ahead of him, Xiao Wu heard that Heart Voice and glanced back at Lin Yi.

An ordinary support-type Soul Master?

He might look ordinary now, but that would not necessarily be the case in the future.

Besides, hadn't his other Martial Soul remained hidden as well?

Xiao Wu shook her head and decided not to pursue the matter for now. She would deal with the Year-End Competition first.

By the time they returned to the Martial Arts Arena, the second round had already reached its fifth match.

Teacher Zhang nodded when he saw them return but said nothing.

Some of the students and teachers below the stage, however, looked at Lin Yi with rather amused expressions when they saw that he had returned unharmed.

Damn, why is everyone looking at me like that?

Was my acting bad? Did they see through it?

No, no. My performance should have been flawless...

They were probably just surprised to see me awake.

Lin Yi felt uncomfortable under their gazes. He hurriedly pretended to be sleepy, yawned, and tried his best to make himself inconspicuous.

Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng went to the waiting area to prepare for their matches.

Before long, it was her turn to take the stage.

Xiao Wu's opponent was a tall, skinny boy whose Martial Soul was a Wind Bell Bird. He was very fast.

But as he stood opposite Xiao Wu, the boy was visibly trembling.

After all, he knew that Xiao Wu was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Her combat instincts were terrifyingly sharp. Fighting her was practically asking for death.

The worst part was that surrendering was not allowed in the second round. That was utterly screwed up.

The boy glanced toward Lin Yi, and an idea immediately formed in his mind. If I can't beat her, can't I just copy Lin Yi and pretend to pass out?

When Lin Yi saw the little boy glance at him and then nod as if he had suddenly understood something, he felt a wave of frustration.

Little brother, looking at me won't help you.

Still, although Xiao Wu used to be close to Tang San, she doesn't have Hidden Weapons or anything. She won't hit too hard in a match either. Fighting her should be safer.

Right, I still don't have my first Soul Ring. Once this competition is over and everyone goes home for the holiday, should I go hunt for a Soul Ring?

But with a Martial Soul like mine... I wonder if the Soul Hunting Forest has anything suitable?

Hearing that Heart Voice, Xiao Wu's heart stirred.

Lin Yi was going to obtain his first Soul Ring?

Then after the holiday, could she go with him?

And learn more of his secrets from him?

As she thought this, the corners of Xiao Wu's lips unconsciously curved upward, but she quickly smoothed her expression again.

The match continued.

There were no surprises. Xiao Wu won easily.

Time passed bit by bit, and soon it was the third round.

Tang San's third-round opponent was a boy with a Flame Hound Martial Soul. He was not weak.

But Tang San did not use his Martial Soul this time. Relying only on the Tang Sect's secret arts and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he won with ease.

Yet once again, there was little applause from the audience.

The students exchanged looks and whispered among themselves.

"Hidden Weapons again. So boring."

"Yeah, and they're secret arts he stole..."

"Keep it down. Don't let him hear you."

Tang San stood on the arena platform and watched the crowd's reaction below. His face darkened terribly.

Again. Why was it always like this whenever he was on stage?

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart, and turned to walk off the stage.

Yu Xiaogang watched him from a corner, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Little San." When Tang San approached, Yu Xiaogang asked in a low voice, "Did you feel it? Everyone's attitude toward you..."

Tang San nodded. "They seem to be deliberately distancing themselves from me. They even... despise me."

"Why?" Yu Xiaogang asked in confusion. "You clearly won."

Tang San fell silent for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Lin Yi in the distance. "I don't know, but I feel that all of this has something to do with Lin Yi."

Yu Xiaogang followed his gaze. Lin Yi had his head lowered, seemingly dozing off.

This is so boring. When will this competition end?

At this rate, they should determine the top few by this afternoon, right?

Still, the top few get rewards.

If I used my second Martial Soul, wouldn't taking first place be easy?

But forget it. If I expose myself too early, I'll become a thorn in Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's sides. I don't want anything to do with them.

Lin Yi had no idea that Tang San and his master had set their sights on him again.

He only wanted the competition to end quickly so he could go back and sleep.

At that moment, Xiao Wu, who was sitting beside him, tugged at the corner of his clothes and casually asked, "Lin Yi, what are your plans for this holiday?"

"Hm?" Lin Yi looked up at her, thought for a moment, and said, "No particular plans. I'll go home for a visit."

Going home is impossible. I'm going to the Soul Hunting Forest to find a Soul Ring.

But I can't tell you that. What if you decide to come with me?