Xiao Wu's Misery

Xiao Wu hung suspended in midair.

She struggled as she looked toward Tang San.

"Brother!"

Tang San was locked in place by vines on the other side.

He raised his head, blood continuously dripping from the corner of his mouth.

"Tang Feng, if you have the guts, come at me."

Tang Feng looked at him.

"I am coming at you."

Dark purple power erupted along the vines once more.

The Mysterious Heaven Skill within Tang San was completely scattered.

All eight of the Eight Spider Lances behind him snapped apart.

Eight pitch-black spider lances fell onto the Spirit Battle Platform, shattering into several pieces.

Tang San's body lost its support and crashed heavily onto the stone floor.

The Soul Power barrier over his chest shattered on the spot.

He braced himself against the ground, trying to rise.

An icy blue vine rose from beneath his feet and wrapped around his right leg.

Another crimson vine lashed across his shoulder.

Tang San's body tilted, and he dropped to his knees again.

Xiao Wu desperately struggled against her restraints.

"Tang Feng, enough!"

Tang Feng did not continue increasing his strength.

He raised a hand.

All the vines stopped at once.

Tang San knelt in the center of the Spirit Battle Platform.

The Blue Silver Grass covering his body had completely dispersed.

The Eight Spider Lances were broken.

His arms hung limply at his sides.

His shoulders and chest were covered in wounds.

Blood dripped from his chin onto the stone floor.

Dai Mubai lay at the edge, while Ma Hongjun's wings were pinned down by vines.

Zhu Zhuqing leaned against a stone pillar, unable to continue fighting.

Ning Rongrong and Oscar had already left the arena.

Of Shrek's seven members, only Xiao Wu was still able to stand.

Tang San raised his head.

He looked at Tang Feng.

"You still only know how to suppress others with your Martial Soul and Soul Power."

Tang Feng walked before him.

"You lost."

Tang San gritted his teeth.

The final Dragon Beard Needle hidden in his sleeve shot out.

A golden needle flash flew straight toward Tang Feng's brow.

Tang Feng turned his face aside.

The Dragon Beard Needle flew past his cheek.

The next instant, vines pierced out through Tang San's chest.

Tang San's body stiffened.

Destructive power exploded within him.

His entire body was flung away, his back slamming into the stone pillar in the center of the Spirit Battle Platform.

Cracks spread across the pillar's surface.

After Tang San landed, he never rose again.

Xiao Wu rushed to his side.

"Brother!"

Tang San lifted one hand, but he could no longer gather Soul Power.

His gaze fell upon the broken Eight Spider Lances.

They were the External Soul Bone he had relied on for years.

Yet now, they had all snapped apart on the Spirit Battle Platform.

The Referee hurried onto the platform.

After confirming that Tang San had lost the ability to fight, he looked at the other Shrek members.

"Shrek Academy, does anyone wish to continue?"

Xiao Wu supported Tang San.

Dai Mubai braced himself against the ground but did not stand.

Ma Hongjun recalled his Phoenix Martial Soul.

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing against the stone pillar.

Oscar and Ning Rongrong stood below the platform.

No one answered.

The Referee raised an arm.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy wins!"

The spectator stands erupted completely.

Tang Feng recalled the Destruction Blue Silver Emperor.

The Dark Blue Vines turned into motes of light and fell upon the shattered Spirit Battle Platform.

Dugu Yan was the first to walk up to him.

She glanced at Tang Feng's face.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Dugu Yan reached out and touched the small bloodstain beside his cheek.

That was where the Dragon Beard Needle had grazed him.

"And you say you're not hurt."

"Just a scratch."

Ye Lingling had already come over.

The Nine-Hearted Begonia blossomed in her palm.

White light fell along Tang Feng's cheek, and the small bloodstain quickly vanished.

Dugu Yan withdrew her hand and turned to look toward the center of the Spirit Battle Platform.

Tang San still lay there.

Fragments of the Eight Spider Lances were scattered everywhere.

"This time, we really didn't make it easy for him."

Tang Feng looked at Tang San on the platform.

"He can still recover."

"You still want to keep going?"

"No need."

Tang Feng turned and walked down from the Spirit Battle Platform.

Dugu Yan followed at his side, her fingertips lightly hooking around his sleeve.

"Who are we facing next?"

"We'll wait for the draw."

"What if it's Shrek again?"

Tang Feng looked at her.

"Then we'll beat them again."

Dugu Yan did not let go.

"Then I'll go up with you."

Tang Feng nodded.

"Alright."

At the center of the Spirit Battle Platform.

Xiao Wu still supported Tang San.

Tang San's eyes remained open as he watched the direction Tang Feng had left in.

He wanted to clench his hand.

But his fingertips only touched a broken piece of spider lance on the ground.

Blood seeped from his palm.

Xiao Wu lowered her head to look at him.

"Brother, let's go get treated first."

Tang San did not answer.

His gaze remained fixed on that broken piece of spider lance.

Years ago, he had been defeated by Tang Feng.

Years later, he still had not even touched Tang Feng.

This time, he had not even managed to keep the Eight Spider Lances.

Night gradually deepened.

The noise within Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena had already faded.

Tang Feng returned to his residence and first organized the records of today's battle.

Just as he set down his pen, a knock came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open.

Zhu Zhuqing stood outside.

She had changed out of Shrek Academy's battle uniform and wore a black long dress. Its hem fell to her ankles, and a thin sash cinched her waist, emphasizing her slender figure.

Her jet-black hair draped behind her shoulders.

Her face was paler than usual, and a bandage was still wrapped around her right arm.

Tang Feng looked at her.

"You're hurt?"

"Just a scratch."

Zhu Zhuqing walked into the room and closed the door.

She did not sit down. Instead, she stood beside the table and glanced at the Record Book on it.

"You're recording today's match?"

"Mm."

"Shrek lost thoroughly."

"You were there too."

"That's why I know."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes.

Her fingers lightly touched her cuff, revealing a small section of bandage at its edge.

Tang Feng stood and walked over to her.

"Give me your hand."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to him.

"The Nine-Hearted Begonia already treated it."

"Let me see."

She did not refuse and extended her right hand.

Tang Feng untied the knot on the outer layer of the bandage.

Several faint red marks remained on her fair arm. The wounds had already scabbed over and were no longer bleeding.

Zhu Zhuqing stood before him.

Her black dress clung to her figure, its collar concealing the side of her neck and exposing only a patch of fair skin.

Her features had always been delicate and beautiful. Now that the killing aura of the Spirit Battle Arena had faded, she appeared even quieter.

Tang Feng took out an ointment from his Storage Soul Tool.

"It needs to be rebandaged."

"I can do it myself."

Zhu Zhuqing took the ointment.

She scooped out a little with her left hand, but the movement was inconvenient. The ointment stuck to her fingertips, and after several attempts, she still could not spread it evenly.

Tang Feng raised a hand and took hold of her wrist.

"Don't move."

Zhu Zhuqing stopped moving.

Tang Feng spread the ointment evenly around the wound.

His fingertips avoided the damaged skin, brushing only lightly over the edges.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and looked at their hands.

"Are you like this with everyone?"

"I'm only treating a wound."

"What about Dugu Yan?"

"She has Ye Lingling."

"What about Ye Lingling?"

"She can heal herself."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to look at him.

"So I'm the only one who needs you?"

"For now."

She did not ask any more questions.

Tang Feng took out a fresh bandage, wrapped it around her arm, and secured it again.

The bandage sat neatly against her arm.

Zhu Zhuqing raised her hand and looked at it.

"You bandage wounds better than the people in the infirmary."

"They have to take care of a lot of people."

"You only take care of me?"

"Tonight, yes."

Zhu Zhuqing's lashes fluttered lightly.

She withdrew her hand and lowered her sleeve.

"Can I sit here for a while?"

"You can."

Zhu Zhuqing walked to the bed and sat down.

She did not lean against the headboard. She merely kept her legs together and placed her hands before her knees.

The black hem of her skirt spread out slightly, revealing the soft-soled ankle boots on her feet.

Tang Feng returned to the table and continued organizing his records.

The room fell quiet.

Zhu Zhuqing watched his back.

"You're not going to ask why I came?"

"If you want to tell me, you will."

"What if I don't?"

"Then just sit there."

Zhu Zhuqing raised a hand and tucked the long hair at her shoulder behind her ear.

"I just wanted to see whether you were hurt."

"I'm not."

"The Dragon Beard Needle grazed your face."

"Lingling already treated it."

"She was by your side?"

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes.

"Dugu Yan was there too."

"She was."

"Huo Wu kissed you."

The pen in Tang Feng's hand paused for a moment.

"You saw that?"

"I did."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at his back.

"You didn't avoid her."

"There was no need to."

"She said it was a reward."

"Mm."

"You accepted it?"

Tang Feng set down his pen and turned around.

"A reward from the match didn't need to be returned."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment.

She raised her right hand, her fingertips touching her lips before she quickly pulled them away.

"Then what if I give you a reward too?"

Tang Feng looked at her.

"What do you want to give me?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"Tell me once you have."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly.

"You're always like this."

"Like what?"

"You leave room in every sentence."

"It's more convenient that way."

She looked at Tang Feng, a faint trace of amusement appearing in her eyes.

"Then I'll stay tonight."

"There isn't an extra bed in this room."

"I know."

"You can go back to the Shrek camp."

"I don't want to go back."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her face.

Her expression remained calm, but she did not look away.

"Ever since Tang San was injured, Xiao Wu has been staying with him. Dai Mubai and the others are in the treatment room too."

"You don't need to go?"

"Even if I went, I could only stand to the side."

She lowered her gaze.

"Besides, I don't want to hear them discussing today's match."

Tang Feng looked toward the bed.

"You can sleep there."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes.

"What about you?"

"I'll meditate."

"You do that every day."

"It helps restore Soul Power."

"You already won the match."

"The end of a match doesn't mean the end of training."

Zhu Zhuqing stood and walked over to him.

She raised her hand and closed the Record Book in Tang Feng's hands.

"No records tonight."

"I haven't finished organizing them."

"Do it tomorrow."

Tang Feng looked at the Record Book beneath her hand.

Zhu Zhuqing's fingers were slender, and her nails were trimmed neatly. Her black cuff hung beside her wrist, revealing a small patch of fair skin.

"You need rest too."

"I'm not tired."

"I want you to rest."

She said it directly.

Tang Feng was silent for a moment before putting the Record Book into his Storage Soul Tool.

Zhu Zhuqing released her hand.

"That's better."

She turned and walked to the bed, letting down her long hair.

Her jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders and back, obscuring half her face. She swept it to one side, revealing her delicate profile.

"I'll sleep on the inside."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing sat on the inner side of the bed.

Tang Feng extinguished the lamp on the table, then walked to the bed and lay down.

The bed was not very wide.

Their arms touched through their sleeves.

Zhu Zhuqing pulled the blanket up to her chest and turned toward the window.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the side of her fair face.

"Tang Feng."

"Mm?"

"Why did you deal with Ning Rongrong first today?"

"She's an auxiliary Spirit Master."

"Oscar is too."

"Ning Rongrong's enhancements are faster."

"So you judged where she would land beforehand."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing looked out the window.

"If I hadn't gone out of bounds, would you have attacked me first?"

"I would have."

"Because I'm an agility-type Spirit Master?"

"Because you're the fastest."

Zhu Zhuqing turned around.

The distance between them closed accordingly.

Her long hair fell across the pillow, its ends brushing Tang Feng's hand.

"You knew where I would attack from?"

"I did."

"You knew how I would dodge?"

"I did."

"Then can I still beat you in the future?"

"You can."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him.

"Really?"

"As long as you get a little faster."

"Your domain can see that too?"

"It can."

"Then I'll change my approach."

Tang Feng looked at her.

"How are you going to change it?"

"I'm not telling you for now."

"Then keep training."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together.

"Are you going to train me again?"

"Your burst power was good, but you couldn't sustain it long enough."

"I just lost today, and you're already picking faults."

"That's the truth."

Zhu Zhuqing raised a hand and pressed down the corner of the blanket.

"Then teach me tomorrow."

"Alright."

"You can't just say one sentence."

"I'll teach you."

Only then did Zhu Zhuqing withdraw her hand.

The room fell silent again.

After a while, she shifted slightly toward the edge of the bed.

Tang Feng noticed the movement and opened his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"The bed is too narrow."

"You can move farther in."

"There's no room left inside."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him.

She did not move any farther, but rested her shoulder against Tang Feng's arm.

Their clothes brushed softly together.

"This is fine."

Tang Feng said nothing.

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes.

Her breathing gradually steadied, but her fingers rested on the corner of the blanket between them.

A moment later, her fingers reached forward slightly and touched Tang Feng's sleeve.

"Are you asleep?"

"No."

"That's good."

"Why?"

"I'm not used to sleeping alone in an unfamiliar place."

"You can go back."

"I've already stayed."

Her fingertips hooked around the edge of Tang Feng's sleeve.

The movement was gentle, but she did not let go.

"Don't leave tonight."

"I won't."

Only then did Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes slowly close.

Her body moved a little closer to Tang Feng, and her forehead settled against his shoulder.

Her long black hair spread between them, carrying a faint fragrance.

Tang Feng lowered his head and glanced at her.

Zhu Zhuqing was already asleep.

Her hand still rested on his sleeve, her fingertips curling slightly as if to make sure he was still beside her.

Tang Feng did not pull his sleeve away.

Moonlight shifted beyond the window.

The room gradually grew still.

That night, Tang Feng did not meditate.

He leaned against the headboard, letting Zhu Zhuqing sleep with her head on his shoulder.

Even when dawn began to brighten, she had not woken.

Morning.

The sky outside the window was already bright.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes.

Her forehead was still resting against Tang Feng's shoulder, her right hand clutching his sleeve.

Her black hair lay spread over the pillow, a few strands falling between them.

Tang Feng sat at the bedside without meditating.

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her eyes. After seeing their position clearly, her fingertips slowly loosened.

"You're awake?"

"Mm."

"Last night, I..."

"You slept well."

Zhu Zhuqing paused.

She sat up and tucked the long hair falling beside her face behind her ear.

Her black dress clung to her waist. After tossing and turning all night, the collar had shifted to one side, revealing a small stretch of fair neck.

Tang Feng reached out and straightened her collar for her.

Zhu Zhuqing froze.

"I can do it myself."

"It's already done."

Tang Feng withdrew his hand.