Won the Match, Lost the Heart

Hearing these inner thoughts, Xiao Wu felt a touch of disappointment.

Since he had already said he was protective to the extreme, why couldn't he just let her win?

She pouted slightly, a flicker of imperceptible dejection flashing through her eyes, but she quickly lifted her head and said with feigned ease, "Hard to say? Then I'll win and show you."

[Heh, once that cheater Tang San gets serious, a few of you wouldn't be enough to take him on.]

[Little rabbit, you're only where you are because you have his favoritism.]

[Otherwise, your ending wouldn't be much better.]

Lin Yi thought this to himself, but aloud he said, "Mm-hmm, I'm rooting for you."

Xiao Wu: "..."

She suddenly had the urge to hit someone.

After a fifteen-minute intermission, the final was about to begin.

On the rostrum, Director Su looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu below with a complex gaze.

These two children—one with Twin Martial Souls, the other a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form—were both once-in-a-century geniuses.

What a pity...

His gaze shifted to Lin Yi in the spectator stands.

It was a pity that this even more mysterious child seemed to have no interest in the competition.

[Finally the final, let's get this over with so I can clock out.]

[I'm starving; that black steamed bun from this morning was digested ages ago.]

[By the way, what was the prize for this Year-End Competition again? Seems like it was soul coins and cultivation resources?]

[But none of that has anything to do with me anyway, since I don't get a share.]

Lin Yi rubbed his stomach, deciding to go buy meat buns as soon as the match ended.

Just then, Teacher Zhang announced loudly, "The Year-End Competition final, Tang San versus Xiao Wu. Both parties, please take the stage!"

Tang San and Xiao Wu walked onto the arena.

The two stood facing each other, the atmosphere somewhat subtle.

"Xiao Wu," Tang San began, his voice gentle, "I will go all out later, and I hope you will do the same."

[Go all out? Are you sure you won't go easy on her?]

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Mm, I will also give it my all."

Her eyes were very serious, without a hint of joking.

Seeing this, Tang San felt slightly better.

At the very least, Xiao Wu was taking the match seriously and wasn't being perfunctory because of anything else.

"The match begins!"

Following Teacher Zhang's command, both entered combat simultaneously.

Blue Silver Grass vines spread out from beneath Tang San's feet, while Xiao Wu crouched slightly, assuming the starting stance of her Soft Technique.

[It's not like this is the first time these two have fought.]

[Nothing to see here.]

[Anyway, Tang San wins in the end; it's just a matter of whether he wins brutally or not.]

[But this girl Xiao Wu is stubborn, and Tang San is the type who never admits defeat. This final probably won't end for at least half an hour.]

Lin Yi shook his head inwardly and began to doze off.

Hearing his words, the crowd couldn't help but smile bitterly. Since he put it that way, were they supposed to watch or not?

Watch, of course—what else could they do?

After all, they weren't like Lin Yi, who knew everything.

Watching experts spar and learning a few combat techniques wasn't a bad idea, either.

On the arena, the two were indeed locked in an inseparable struggle.

And the process was actually just as Lin Yi's inner voice had predicted.

Xiao Wu clearly couldn't win, yet she insisted on pushing herself.

As for Tang San, anyone with eyes could see that his Blue Silver Grass was only controlling and not attacking; he was clearly going easy on Xiao Wu.

This was just too boring.

Many were left speechless by Tang San's actions, some even feeling a sense of disdain.

It was no wonder Lin Yi mocked him and wanted to keep his distance.

When facing someone he was close to, he was accommodating in every way, but when facing others, he acted as if he wanted to beat them to death?

And there's more.

Before, when Xiao Chenyu didn't take the match seriously, wasn't he unhappy about it?

What about now? Why doesn't he mention that he didn't use his full strength?

Could it be just because Xiao Wu is a good friend he acknowledges?

This is just too double-standard.

With this style of conduct, surely very few people like him, right?

The expressions of the crowd beneath the stage grew increasingly strange, and there was even hushed whispering.

On the stage, Tang San also sensed the odd atmosphere below.

He could feel that the way everyone looked at him hadn't become friendly because of his gentlemanly demeanor; instead, they seemed even more distant.

Why?

Could it be wrong for him to show mercy to Xiao Wu?

A wave of irritation surged in Tang San's heart, and the soul power in his hands unconsciously intensified.

At this moment.

Xiao Wu was also tired of fighting. She knew Tang San wouldn't admit defeat, and there was no point in continuing to compete, so she took a hit head-on to end the match.

She sighed and gave up resisting, "I lost."

Her voice was very soft, carrying a trace of imperceptible disappointment.

Tang San immediately withdrew his vines and soul power suppression, reaching out to help Xiao Wu.

However, Xiao Wu steadied herself and took a step back, creating distance.

This subtle movement left Tang San's hand frozen in mid-air.

He retracted his hand and offered a forced smile, "I accept the win."

At the edge of the stage, Teacher Zhang announced at the right moment, "Year-End Competition final, Tang San wins."

As the words fell.

A smattering of applause rang out from below.

But many students wore complex expressions.

It wasn't that they didn't acknowledge Tang San's strength, but rather that they felt disgusted by his behavior.

He wanted to act like a gentleman, yet lacked the true grace of one.

He was being hypocritical, plain and simple.

As for Lin Yi, he was woken up by the sound of the applause.

He swept a glance over the stage, and understanding dawned on him instantly.

[Tang San won, as expected.]

[But what's with Xiao Wu's expression? It's not like it's your first time sparring, why be so upset?]

[Or is it that because you didn't take the championship, the reward isn't good enough?]

[It's fine, Tang San will give you the reward once he gets it anyway.]

Hearing this, the crowd felt even more contempt.

If he was going to give it to her anyway, why couldn't he just let her win?

Just then, Director Su walked from the podium to the stage, gave a closing speech, and began the awards ceremony.

The champion, Tang San, was awarded five Gold Soul Coins and a ten-year Soul Gathering Grass.

The runner-up, Xiao Wu, received only three Gold Soul Coins.

Li Yan and Xiao Chenyu tied, each receiving one Gold Soul Coin.

The rest of the top ten received some consolation prizes.

After the ceremony ended, the students began to leave one after another.

At this moment, Tang San took the reward he had won as champion and walked to Xiao Wu's side, "Xiao Wu, this is for you."

Even though she had expected it, Xiao Wu was still stunned for a moment, "For me? Why?"

"The Soul Gathering Grass will help with your cultivation," Tang San said earnestly. "My cultivation method is quite special, so I don't have much use for it."

That was the truth.

The cultivation method of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill was different from the soul power cultivation of the Douluo Continent, so the Soul Gathering Grass indeed had limited effects on him.

But more importantly, he wanted to use this gesture to win back Xiao Wu's heart.

The distance Xiao Wu had kept from him lately made him feel very uneasy.

Xiao Wu looked at the wooden box in front of her and hesitated.

If it were before, she would have happily accepted it, thinking how truly good Tang San was to her.

But now...

She recalled the inner voice of Lin Yi.

She recalled the sacrifice, and she recalled her own tragic future.

"No need, Tang San." She shook her head, pushing the wooden box back toward him. "This is the reward you won; you should keep it for yourself."

Tang San's hand froze in mid-air.

He had not expected Xiao Wu to refuse.

"Xiao Wu, I really don't have a use for it..."

"I don't have a use for it either." Xiao Wu interrupted him, her tone resolute. "My cultivation method is also quite special."

This was also the truth.

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, her cultivation method was indeed different from that of human soul masters.

Yet, upon hearing these words, Tang San's expression sank instantly.

He could feel that Xiao Wu was not being polite; she truly did not want his things.

This kind of rejection was worse than losing the match.

"Take it." Tang San forcibly shoved the wooden box into Xiao Wu's hands. "Just consider it a gift from me."

Having said that, he did not give Xiao Wu a chance to refuse again, turned around, and walked away.