Zhu Zhuqing crouched and pulled the black Little Cat Pendant from the retrieval slot.
It was palm-sized, made of smooth black velvet, with green eyes that glinted beneath the lights.
The instant she touched the cat, a voice boomed into her mind.
[Congratulations, Player Zhu Zhuqing! You have obtained one Little Cat Pendant!]
[Bonus prize: 100% Speed Boost BUFF, usable within 3 days!]
[When activated, attack speed and movement speed will double for 10 minutes. Usable within 3 days.]
[Information updated: Zhu Zhuqing, Level 62. (Speed Boost reward has been issued; activate it with a thought when needed.)]
Zhu Zhuqing stood there, motionless.
Attack speed and movement speed doubled. Doubled!
She was an agility-type Soul Master; speed was her core strength. Double the base speed of a Level 62 Soul Emperor!
What did that number mean?
It meant her movement speed could approach that of an Level 80 Soul Douluo.
Zhu Zhuqing closed her hand around the black cat and slowly stood up.
Her face showed no expression, but her palm was sweating.
She didn't win on her remaining two tries.
After they finished at the claw machines, the four of them walked out of the shop.
The morning sunlight fell at an angle across them, warm and bright. More people were out on the street now. The blacksmith's shop had opened, and the clang of hammers rang through the alley.
Qin Chuan waved from behind them. "Take care, ladies! Come back anytime!"
"Sure thing, boss!" The four waved back and left.
Xiao Wu spoke first, hands on her hips, her Scorpion Braid swinging behind her.
"None of the three of us won anything today, but Zhuqing did! So, Zhuqing, what did you get?"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced around to make sure there were no boys she knew nearby, then lowered her voice.
"A 100% Speed Boost BUFF, usable within 3 days."
Xiao Wu's mouth fell open. Ning Rongrong sucked in a breath, and Bai Chenxiang's twin ponytails swayed as she leaned forward half a step.
"100%? Doesn't that mean..."
"Double speed." Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "I did the math. Double the base speed of a Level 62 agility-type Soul Master, and it's about the same as a Level 80 Soul Douluo."
The four of them stood at the mouth of the alley, silent for two seconds.
Then Xiao Wu smiled.
She was grinning so widely that even her rabbit-ear hair ornaments bounced.
"Zhuqing, go beat Dai Mubai up."
The corner of Zhu Zhuqing's mouth twitched.
"That's what I was thinking."
Ning Rongrong cut in from the side. "Don't rush into it. Think about how you'll fight him first. Dai Mubai is Level 68, with a White Tiger Martial Soul and a strength-based build. Even if your speed doubles, his defense is still there. It wouldn't be smart to clash head-on."
"I don't need to clash with him," Zhu Zhuqing said. "My Hell Spirit Cat focuses on agility. As long as I'm fast enough, he won't be able to touch me. I don't need to knock him out with one punch. I just need to hit him until he admits defeat."
"So, wear him down." Xiao Wu clapped her hands. "With your movement and attack speeds doubled, he won't even be able to chase your shadow. Scratch him a few times, and he'll have to concede."
"But we need an excuse," Ning Rongrong said. "We can't just run over and beat him up. We have to get him to agree to a fight."
"Hmph. If I want to fight him, why do I need a reason?"
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "No, no, Zhuqing, that would be no fun. How about challenging Dai Mubai to a wager?"
"What wager?"
"If you lose, you agree to be his girlfriend."
Zhu Zhuqing's brows furrowed at once.
"Don't get upset yet." Xiao Wu waved her hands. "Think about it. Your speed will be doubled, so there's no way you'll lose. But the stakes will get him fired up enough to accept. Then, when you win, he has to call us all great-aunties in public. And from then on, whenever he sees us, he has to take the long way around. Otherwise, he has to call us great-aunties again."
"Hey, that's a pretty good idea!" Ning Rongrong said with a laugh.
"Dai Mubai is the leader of F4. If he has to avoid us from now on, the other three won't dare mess with us either," Xiao Wu said.
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a few seconds. "Fine."
Just one word, decisive and crisp.
The four split up. Xiao Wu and Bai Chenxiang went back to the academy to challenge Dai Mubai. Ning Rongrong went to notify the other students nearby to come watch and serve as witnesses, while Zhu Zhuqing returned to the training grounds to warm up.
An hour later, at the academy's athletic field.
The news spread fast. In less than half an hour, word that Zhu Zhuqing was challenging Dai Mubai had swept through the entire year.
The athletic field was packed with spectators. Several rows sat on the stone steps, while others stood at higher vantage points to watch.
Dai Mubai arrived five minutes before the agreed time.
His short golden hair shone dazzlingly in the sunlight. His academy uniform collar was open, and the royal crest on his belt flashed in the light. Standing in the middle of the athletic field at six foot five, he made the students around him look like little chicks.
Ma Hongjun stood beside him with his hands in his pockets, looking like he was enjoying the show.
Tang San and Oscar hadn't come. Tang San's waist injury still hadn't healed properly, and Oscar had just lost a front tooth. They both needed time to recover.
"Brother Mubai, what's gotten into Zhu Zhuqing? Why'd she suddenly challenge you?" Ma Hongjun asked.
Dai Mubai wore a confident smile.
"Who cares what's gotten into her? She's a Level 62 agility-type Soul Master, challenging my Level 68 strength-type build? She's practically delivering herself to me."
"True enough. And the wager is that she'll be your girlfriend."
Dai Mubai's smile deepened. "I've been pursuing her for ages, and she's always dodged me. Now she's come to me on her own. Whatever the reason, I'm taking her up on it."
"What are your stakes, then?"
Dai Mubai waved dismissively. "How could I possibly lose to someone six levels below me?"
Ma Hongjun shrugged and retreated to the sidelines.
At the other end of the athletic field, Zhu Zhuqing walked over.
Her black leather jacket shimmered subtly in the sunlight, fitting snugly around her upper body. Its tapered waist accentuated her slender figure, while her leather pants hugged her long, straight legs. Every step was sharp and decisive.
Her black ankle boots struck the stone slabs with a quiet, steady rhythm.
The watching students automatically parted to make way.
Zhu Zhuqing walked to the center of the athletic field and faced Dai Mubai from twenty meters away.
Xiao Wu stood in the front row at the edge of the field, her Scorpion Braid hanging over her chest, both fists clenched. She was so excited that her face had turned red.
Ning Rongrong stood beside her, still gripping her notebook, though she had no interest in reading it.
Bai Chenxiang hid behind them, peeking out with half her head. Her palms were sweating with nerves.
"Everyone here is a witness to the wager," Xiao Wu called, her voice carrying across the athletic field. "If Zhu Zhuqing loses, she'll be Dai Mubai's girlfriend. If Dai Mubai loses, then from now on, whenever he sees any of the four of us, he has to call us great-aunties. Do both sides agree?"
"I agree." Dai Mubai folded his arms, relaxed.
"Agreed." Zhu Zhuqing didn't say a word more than necessary.
Ma Hongjun walked from the sidelines to the middle to serve as referee. "Are both sides ready?"
Dai Mubai rolled his neck, his joints cracking.
Zhu Zhuqing bent forward slightly, lowered her center of gravity, and slid her right foot half a step back.
"Begin!"