When Oscar fell from the sky, his mind went completely blank.
The moment Light Wing disappeared, he felt as though someone had kicked him straight off a cloud.
The wind howled past his ears, and the ground rushed closer before his eyes.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the pain that was about to come.
But the pain never came.
A hand grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him to a stop.
Oscar opened his eyes and saw Fu Wen's expressionless face.
"How many times have I told you? Don't attack me from behind."
Fu Wen let go. Oscar landed on his backside and gasped for breath.
"I... I wasn't trying to sneak up on you from behind. I just wanted to get around behind you..."
Oscar's voice trembled, half from fright and half from feeling wronged.
"What's the difference between getting behind me and sneaking up on me from behind?"
Fu Wen looked at him.
Oscar opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Ning Rongrong stood off to the side, the light from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand still shining.
She looked at Fu Wen, her expression complicated.
In that brief moment just now, she hadn't even seen Fu Wen move.
She'd only seen the Divine Crocodile Phantom's tail sweep past, Oscar's Light Wing disappear, and then Oscar fall.
That was Flow-Severing.
It forcibly interrupted the flow of Soul Power for three seconds.
During those three seconds, an opponent's Soul Power couldn't circulate normally, and they couldn't release any Soul Skills.
Three seconds sounded short, but in a fight, three seconds could decide life or death.
"Keep going."
Flender's voice came from nearby.
"One incense stick hasn't burned down yet."
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and looked at Oscar. "Oscar, can you still fight?"
Oscar climbed to his feet and rubbed his aching backside. "I can."
"Then let's go again."
This time, Ning Rongrong didn't rush to boost Oscar.
She stood directly in front of Fu Wen, carefully watching his movements.
Fu Wen's Flow-Severing was powerful, but it had one obvious limitation: his tail had to hit his opponent to trigger it.
In other words, as long as they avoided his tail, Flow-Severing was useless.
"Oscar, don't attack him from behind."
Ning Rongrong lowered her voice.
"Go for his side."
"His side?"
"Right. His tail sweeps from back to front. His sides are his blind spots."
Oscar paused, then nodded. He ate another Flying Sausage and spread his Light Wing.
This time, he didn't fly behind Fu Wen. Instead, he hovered to Fu Wen's left.
"Seven Treasures Famous, First Treasure: Strength!"
Ning Rongrong boosted Oscar again.
Oscar dove from the left and punched toward Fu Wen's shoulder.
Fu Wen sidestepped, and Oscar's fist struck nothing but air.
But Oscar didn't stop. He immediately threw another punch.
Fu Wen didn't fight back. He only dodged.
Flender had said he could only defend, not retaliate.
But that didn't mean he couldn't dodge.
With his reaction speed and control over his body, Oscar's fists couldn't touch him.
"He's too fast. I can't hit him at all."
Oscar landed again, panting.
"Don't chase after him."
Ning Rongrong thought for a moment.
"Make him move first."
"How?"
"Use the speed of your Flying Sausage to move quickly around him. He isn't afraid of you hitting him, but he won't like you circling him nonstop. The moment he moves, his tail will move with him. That's when he'll leave himself open."
Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong, astonishment filling his eyes.
The young lady had been here for less than half a month, and she'd already thought of all that?
Her battle instincts were far better than his.
"Okay, I'll do what you say."
Oscar took off again.
This time, he didn't attack. Instead, he circled Fu Wen at tremendous speed.
The Flying Sausage was so fast that Oscar's figure became a ring of blue afterimages around Fu Wen.
Fu Wen's brow furrowed slightly.
Ning Rongrong was right. He wasn't afraid of Oscar hitting him, but he didn't like being circled.
It wasn't a threat. It was just annoying.
The Divine Crocodile Phantom's tail twitched.
Only once, but Oscar saw it.
He abruptly changed direction and charged straight at Fu Wen.
Fu Wen's tail had just swept past on the left and couldn't return in time.
His front was a blind spot.
Oscar's fist slammed into Fu Wen's chest.
Thump.
A dull impact rang out.
Fu Wen didn't budge.
Oscar's fist hurt like hell.
"I hit him."
Oscar stood frozen, unable to believe he'd actually landed a blow.
Ning Rongrong froze too, then jumped excitedly. "You hit him! Oscar, you hit him!"
Ma Hongjun clapped from the side. "Oscar, you're awesome!"
Fu Wen glanced down at his chest, then looked back at Oscar and nodded. "Not bad."
Oscar nearly burst into tears.
It was the first time Fu Wen had praised him.
Flender stood some distance away, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
This girl, Ning Rongrong, had more brains than he'd expected.
She hadn't relied on brute force. She'd used her head.
She'd spotted Flow-Severing's blind spot, used speed to create pressure, forced Fu Wen to move, then seized the opening to land a hit.
Oscar's punch hadn't hurt Fu Wen at all, but according to the rules, touching him counted as a win.
They'd won.
"Time's up. Oscar and Ning Rongrong win."
Flender announced the result.
Ning Rongrong smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits.
She ran over to Oscar and held out her hand. "Oscar, we won!"
Oscar took her hand and grinned too. "We won, we won!"
Ma Hongjun rushed over and wrapped his arms around them both. "That was amazing! You actually managed to touch Brother Wen!"
Fu Wen stood to one side, watching the three of them hug, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The young lady had improved quickly.
She was more than a whole tier stronger than when she'd first arrived.
It wasn't just her strength, either. Her mindset had changed.
She'd learned to observe, to think, and to work as part of a team.
Those were things she couldn't learn in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Only real combat could teach them.
"All right, all right. That's enough hugging."
Flender walked over.
"That's it for today's training. Rongrong, stay behind."
Ning Rongrong let go of Oscar and walked over to Flender. "What is it, Dean?"
"You did very well today."
Flender looked at her.
"But you made one mistake."
Ning Rongrong paused. "What mistake?"
"You rely too much on Oscar."
Flender pushed up his glasses.
"Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a support-type Martial Soul. A support's job isn't to direct their teammates, but to make them stronger. Today, you kept telling Oscar how to fight. That isn't your responsibility."
Ning Rongrong fell silent.
"Your responsibility is to give your teammates the most effective boost in the shortest amount of time. How to fight is their concern."
Flender spoke calmly.
"You're support, not a commander."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head. "I understand."
"Good."
Flender patted her shoulder.
"Go get some rest."
Ning Rongrong turned and walked away. After a few steps, she stopped and glanced back at Fu Wen.
He was still standing on the training field, lost in thought.
She bit her lip, said nothing, and hurried off.
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