That sense of defeat was like a basin of ice water poured over her from head to toe, chilling her to the very heart.
The crowd watching from the battle platform erupted.
"What just happened? I didn't see a thing!"
"When did that guy leave the platform? I never even blinked—how did he just disappear?"
"He comes and goes without a trace. Now that's real speed!"
"Miss Bai is fast, sure, but compared to this guy, she's like a heaven above and an earth below. They're not even in the same league!"
"He's too strong! That wasn't a Soul Skill. That was pure speed crushing the competition!"
Dai Hong's mouth hung open. He was completely dumbstruck.
He rubbed his eyes several times before he was sure he hadn't seen wrong.
Yu Xiaolong really wasn't on the battle platform anymore.
And the message from Three Mile Pavilion said that Young Master Yu was already there, drinking tea—and the tea was almost cold.
How long had it been? Ten breaths?
No, maybe even less.
He'd covered thirty li from the eastern gate to a spot outside the western gate in less than ten breaths, and Bai Chenxiang had even started several breaths earlier!
Today, Dai Hong had finally seen what speed really was. This was speed!
His admiration for Yu Xiaolong instantly soared to a whole new level.
That man was practically a god.
Bai Chenxiang stood frozen in place.
Her head drooped, and her purple twin ponytails hung limply.
She clutched her skirt tightly in both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She just couldn't bring herself to say those three words: "I lost."
She was a genius. How could she lose? How could she?
But—
Her body trembled faintly with exhaustion from the high-speed sprint, and her legs were still a little wobbly. That burst of speed just now had nearly drained all her Soul Power.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaolong had merely sat there drinking tea.
The gap between them was so vast it left her despairing.
Huo Wu came out of Three Mile Pavilion and patted Bai Chenxiang on the shoulder.
"Come on, don't just stand there. There's no shame in losing to that old geezer."
Her tone was as stubborn as ever, but a trace of sympathy flickered in her eyes.
The look on the girl's face reminded her of herself. The first time she'd lost to Yu Xiaolong, she'd looked just like this.
She'd stubbornly refused to admit defeat, desperately clinging to her pride, while inside she'd been seething with jealousy.
"Even I can't beat him, so it's only natural that you lost." Huo Wu offered a rare word of comfort, then immediately twisted the knife. "But you did lose pretty badly. Haha."
Bai Chenxiang's face turned even redder.
She wanted to run.
She wanted to get away from here.
She didn't want anyone to see her in such a sorry state.
She turned to leave, only to crash into a solid chest.
At some point, Yu Xiaolong had appeared behind her. His deep eyes quietly watched her.
"You lost."
His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force.
Bai Chenxiang bit her lower lip and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Why didn't this man make any sound when he walked?
When had he come over? I can't match his speed, and I couldn't even sense him approaching? This is so embarrassing.
"Now, you have to take me as your master."
Yu Xiaolong's words struck Bai Chenxiang's heart like a hammer.
She abruptly raised her head, her face deathly pale.
"I, I..."
Her lips trembled. She wanted to make excuses, to take back her promise.
She was the genius of the Speed Clan. How could she just take an outsider as her master?
If word got out, what would become of her family's reputation?
More importantly, bowing her head to someone who had beaten her was more painful than being killed.
But when the words reached her lips, she just couldn't say them.
Because there was no mockery or smugness in Yu Xiaolong's eyes, only a calm gaze.
That calmness made her feel worse than any taunt could have.
"Are you going back on your word?" Yu Xiaolong raised an eyebrow slightly.
Bai Chenxiang's face was so red it looked ready to bleed.
What was she supposed to do? She couldn't run away, couldn't beat him, and couldn't argue with him.
Did she really have to take this man as her master?
She sneaked a glance at Yu Xiaolong, then quickly lowered her head again.
Her heart inexplicably began to beat faster.
Strange. He had beaten her, so why, now that he was close, did she feel something besides defeat—a flutter she couldn't explain? Was it submission? Or...
She didn't dare think any further.
Huo Wu watched from the side, amusement growing clearer in her eyes.
The old geezer had taken another disciple. This was getting interesting.
Dai Hong, meanwhile, gazed at Yu Xiaolong with a face full of admiration.
Now that was the bearing of a true powerhouse.
Bai Chenxiang bit her lip, her heart in turmoil.
Become his disciple? Refuse?
Agree? Go back on her word?
The girl, usually so proud and self-assured, had for the first time felt what it meant to be helpless before someone.
And this was only the beginning.
White Family Fortress.
Bai He slammed his palm on the table, sending the teacup bouncing.
"Who's got the nerve to abduct someone from my White Family Fortress?"
His white beard trembled, sparks flying in his eyes as he paced in a fury.
The old man had been poor his whole life, but he valued his pride above his own life.
His granddaughter had been abducted. If word got out, where would that leave his dignity?
"Get the horses ready! I'll tear that bastard apart myself!"
His voice was hoarse, like an enraged old crane, but his heart was thumping with unease.
That girl was trouble enough without anyone provoking her. Why would anyone go out of their way to mess with her?
Could someone have taken a fancy to her looks?
The thought sent a chill down Bai He's spine, and he hurried even faster.
As he charged out, he cursed, "That damn girl, always going on about being a 'genius.' Well, now she's really gone and attracted a pack of wolves!"
But for all his scolding, his cloudy old eyes were full of anxiety, not a trace of blame in them.
All he had left was his dignity and this granddaughter. He couldn't lose either.
At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, ancient trees towered overhead, their shadows dappling the ground.
Bai Chenxiang was slung over Yu Xiaolong's shoulder like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Put me down, you old man!"
Her twin ponytails whipped back and forth, and her little legs kicked wildly.
She was both embarrassed and furious, and wanted to bite the bastard to death.
But his arm was an iron hoop, holding her fast, and his speed was absurd.
The wind roared past her ears as the trees rushed by. He was moving faster than she could at full flight.
Bai Chenxiang was stunned. Even her grandfather might not be able to catch up at this speed.
"Curse me one more time, and I'll strip you naked and hang you from a tree."
Yu Xiaolong's voice was faint, and his feet never slowed.
Bai Chenxiang choked, her little face flushing red as she forced the words back down.
She was stubborn, but she wasn't stupid.
The man's eyes were as cold as a blade. He absolutely meant what he said.
"You... what do you want from me? I don't have any Soul Bones, and I don't have any money either!"
Her voice lacked conviction. She knew perfectly well how poor the White Family Fortress was.
"Take me as your master."
"Huh?"
Bai Chenxiang thought she'd misheard and stared at him wide-eyed.
"Why should a genius like me take you as my master? Who do you think you are, you old—ah!"
Before she could finish, Yu Xiaolong sped up, leaving afterimages in his wake.
Bai Chenxiang's stomach lurched. She nearly threw up.
"I can teach you speed."
Yu Xiaolong's voice remained calm, but his words landed in her ears with the weight of a thousand jun.
Bai Chenxiang fell silent, tears glistening in her eyes.
She thought of herself as a genius, but when it came to speed, she had always longed to break through her limits.
Her grandfather couldn't teach her. This man could.
"I... I..."
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