One Against Four

The original plan had been ten work-study students against ten fee-paying students. The work-study students were weaker overall, and even with Tang San, their chances of winning had been slim.

But now Xiao Wu and Nezha were only two people. It just so happened that each side could send out two fighters. That way, all they needed to send were Tang San and himself, putting them on equal footing with the fee-paying students.

Besides, in his eyes, Tang San was more than capable of dealing with these opponents.

Wang Sheng suppressed the smile tugging at his lips and put on a righteous expression. "In that case, each side will send two people to fight. Fair and reasonable."

Xiao Chenyu's expression immediately darkened.

He saw through Wang Sheng's scheme at once. Among the work-study students, only Tang San and Wang Sheng could fight; everyone else was just making up the numbers. Changing it to a two-person battle would conveniently kick out all the deadweight.

He shot Wang Sheng a cold glance, but with so many people watching, he could not say much for the sake of his reputation as the academy boss.

"Fine." Xiao Chenyu squeezed out the word through clenched teeth.

The format remained a gauntlet match, with the order of appearance decided by drawing lots.

The moment Xiao Wu heard the words "drawing lots," she spoke before anyone else could. "No need to draw. I'll go first."

Everyone looked at her.

"I'm taking on four by myself."

The entire crowd erupted.

Xiao Chenyu froze for a moment, then looked her up and down as if she were an idiot. The older fee-paying students behind him laughed outright.

Tang San also frowned, looking at Xiao Wu in confusion.

Anyone with eyes could see that in a gauntlet match, the earlier one fought, the greater the disadvantage. Going first meant fighting five matches in a row and suffering the greatest loss of stamina. Only an idiot would fight for that position.

But Xiao Wu was no idiot.

She was the tyrant of Star Dou Forest, Xiao Wu, the Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit, and she was about to become the big sister of Notting Academy.

If she wanted to be the boss, she had to convince everyone with strength and make these little brats submit wholeheartedly.

She would fight them one by one and knock every last one of them down, so no one would dare challenge her later.

Besides, Xiao Wu knew that Nezha was already at the Soul Grandmaster level. If Nezha stepped in, he would take them down one move at a time, and all the glory would go to him. Where would that leave Sister Xiao Wu's chance to show off?

"Since you insist on going first, we certainly have no objections." Afraid that Xiao Wu might change her mind, Xiao Chenyu immediately finalized it.

Tang San gave Xiao Wu a surprised look and nodded as well.

Nezha stood at the edge of the crowd. Seeing the eager, ready-to-fight look on Xiao Wu's face, he sighed helplessly.

After spending so much time together, how could he not see through her little scheme? She wanted to be the boss at Notting Academy, so she was itching to steal the spotlight.

Fine. If she wanted to play, he would let her play.

The order of appearance for the work-study students and the fee-paying students was quickly decided as well. Xiao Chenyu was lucky enough to draw the later position, leaving the work-study students to take the lead.

Wang Sheng walked up to Tang San and lowered his voice. "Third Brother, let me go first. I'll try to drain some of her Soul Power so it'll be easier for you afterward."

Tang San was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Wang Sheng took a deep breath and strode to the center of the clearing, stopping in front of Xiao Wu.

The two released their martial souls almost simultaneously.

Wang Sheng gave a low shout as Soul Power surged through him. His hands instantly transformed into a pair of furry tiger claws, and three-inch claws sprang from his fingertips.

A pale yellow sheen spread through his eyes, and his pupils narrowed into vertical slits. Battle Tiger martial soul possession.

Xiao Wu released her martial soul as well.

Soft Bone Rabbit possession. Her ears lengthened slightly, her legs became slender and powerful, and a faint pink glow covered her body. A yellow soul ring slowly revolved beneath her feet.

"Soul ring!"

The watching students let out low cries of surprise. Although they had already seen Xiao Wu's first soul ring before, seeing the century-old soul ring on her again still made many of them stare wide-eyed.

At Notting Academy, the number of students with soul rings could be counted on one hand, let alone one with a century-old soul ring of the optimal configuration.

Wang Sheng looked at the soul ring beneath Xiao Wu's feet and gritted his teeth. He knew he would most likely lose, but he still had to force himself forward. Every bit of her stamina he could drain would make things easier for Tang San later.

"Begin!" the student acting as referee announced loudly.

Wang Sheng attacked first.

With a tiger's roar, he pushed off the ground with both legs and pounced at Xiao Wu.

His tiger claws carved several arcs through the air as they shot straight for Xiao Wu's face. He had no soul skills and could only rely on the most basic pouncing and tearing attacks.

Xiao Wu stood motionless. When the tiger claws came within half a foot of her, her body suddenly shifted to the left.

It was a tiny movement, less than a foot in range, yet the timing was astonishing. The tiger claws brushed past her hair without touching even a single strand.

At the same time she dodged, Xiao Wu had already bent and raised her right leg. Her toes shot out like a spring, aimed directly at Wang Sheng's back.

Bang.

Her foot landed squarely on Wang Sheng's back.

Wang Sheng only felt a burst of deft force strike from behind. He lost his balance completely and crashed face-first into the ground.

He lay sprawled on the grass, his mouth ringed with grass clippings and dirt, looking utterly miserable.

Xiao Wu withdrew her leg and tilted her head at him. "Do you admit defeat?"

"No!" Wang Sheng gritted his teeth, climbed back up, and lunged at her again.

This time, he had learned his lesson. Rather than charging straight ahead, he circled around her and constantly changed angles, trying to find an opening in Xiao Wu's defense.

Bang.

He went down again.

He climbed back up, panting heavily through his nose. The veins on his forehead bulged.

"I haven't lost yet!"

Bang.

He went down again.

The watching work-study students went from tense to silent. Every dull impact sounded as if it were striking them instead.

Several students who were close to the work-study students simply turned their heads away, unable to bear watching any longer.

Wang Sheng was already covered in bruises, with scrapes all over his arms and face. Even his legs trembled as he got back to his feet.

Yet every time he was kicked down, he climbed back up. After rising, he would charge again from a different direction, as if he did not know the meaning of giving up.

He was draining Xiao Wu's stamina. No matter how badly he was beaten, as long as he could wear her down a little more, Tang San would have it a little easier afterward.

Xiao Wu saw through it.

She shook her head. "Why do you insist on taking a beating for nothing?"

Wang Sheng did not answer. He wiped the dirt from his face and charged again.

At the edge of the field, Tang San stood expressionlessly, his fingers quietly resting on the Twenty-Four Bridges Bright Moon Night at his waist.

With a flick of his hand, several pebbles silently slid into his palm.

He could see it clearly. Wang Sheng was no match for Xiao Wu. At this rate, he could hold on for at most another round or two before going down.

But every moment Wang Sheng delayed would drain a little more of Xiao Wu's stamina. That effort could not go to waste.

On the field, Wang Sheng's Soul Power was nearly depleted.

Before it ran out completely, he took two running steps and launched his final offensive. He raised his tiger claws high, then leaped into the air and pounced at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu frowned slightly.

She had not put much force into those earlier kicks. In her eyes, they were all just little brats, and it would not be good if she seriously injured them.

But Wang Sheng was like an unkillable cockroach. He got up every time he fell, over and over without end.

She was out of patience.

This kick, she decided, would knock him unconscious.