Conceding Without a Fight
"That kid's so lucky. He actually made it back at the last moment."
"Yeah, if he'd been a step later, he would've been expelled. What a pity!"
"Hmph! So what if he's back? Don't you know? Even if he's returned, he'll still be expelled if he loses a single match in the assessment."
"That's right. He's facing the future clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. How could he possibly win?"
"He took a year's leave. He's no longer qualified to stay at the Holy Academy."
Many people below the arena were talking among themselves. None of them thought well of Wang Feng's chances, nor would they give him even a shred of hope.
Wang Feng paid no attention to them. Instead, he looked at Yu Tianheng and smiled. "I really didn't expect it! Young Master Yu, you're truly magnanimous. You really do live up to your reputation as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's first heir. You were even willing to give me time. Good. To thank you for giving me time, I won't hurt you! Well? Aren't I being good to you too?"
"Such outrageous boasts!"
"Ignorant fool! He really thinks he can take on Young Master Yu."
"He really doesn't know whether to live or die, acting so arrogantly. Young Master Yu, make sure you teach him a harsh lesson!"
"Beat him hard! Let him know the consequences of arrogance, and teach him how to write the word 'trash'!"
"Yeah, beat him up! Young Master Yu is mighty!"
"Young Master Yu is mighty!"
Many people below the arena shouted at the top of their lungs. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Yu Tianheng had already won!
On the arena, Yu Tianheng's expression grew even uglier when he heard their cheers.
Was he a match for Wang Feng? Not at all. He hadn't been a match for him over a year ago. Now that a year had passed, he had thought he could take on Wang Feng, perhaps even surpass him. He had still clung to that illusion right up until the moment before the match.
But when he saw Wang Feng's speed, he knew that over the past year or so, not only had he failed to catch up, Wang Feng had pulled even farther ahead.
He was filled with regret. Why had he given Wang Feng a chance?
If he had known Wang Feng would make it, he should have had the referee announce the result right away!
"Yu Tianheng, come on! Let me see just how much you, the future clan leader, have improved in over a year!"
Wang Feng gave a strange smile and stepped toward Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng was startled by Wang Feng's smile. He immediately came to his senses, turned to the referee and shouted, "Referee, I concede!"
"What did you say?"
"What? What did Young Master Yu say?"
"Concede? Did I hear that right?"
Whether they were students below the arena or referees at the judges' table, everyone was dumbfounded.
Facing a student from an ordinary class, Yu Tianheng, a student of the special class, had actually conceded before they had even exchanged blows. What did that mean? Had he done it on purpose?
Impossible. Many people knew that Wang Feng had killed someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. There was bad blood between them, so how could Yu Tianheng deliberately let Wang Feng win?
"Yu Tianheng, conceding is no fun! Let's have a little practice. It'll give me a chance to see how much you've improved." Wang Feng rubbed his hands together with a smile, having already reached Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng hurriedly backed away in fright. Looking at the referee, he roared, "I concede! Didn't you hear me? Hurry up and announce it!"
"You!" The referee's expression changed. A student had actually roared at him in public! But he also saw the terror on Yu Tianheng's face, so he announced loudly, "I declare Wang Feng the winner of arena one."
Whew!
Hearing the referee's announcement, Yu Tianheng let out a long sigh of relief.
"How boring!" Wang Feng shook his head with a smile and stopped.
Yu Tianheng hurriedly jumped down from the arena, then left the fighting grounds in haste with the support of some other students.
Now that he had conceded, he naturally had no chance of making it to the finals, and there was no need for him to stay.
Only then did everyone come to their senses. Yu Tianheng really had conceded.
"What's going on? Why did Young Master Yu suddenly concede?"
"What on earth is going on? Can someone explain it to me?"
Whether they were students from the special class or the ordinary classes, they were all utterly baffled. Even many of the teachers were surprised.
Why had Yu Tianheng conceded? What exactly was he afraid of? Was he afraid of Spirit Hall? But given Yu Tianheng's status, he should have had no reason to fear Spirit Hall.
The remaining matches held little meaning for Wang Feng. Of the three people left, two were his roommates, and the other conceded just as readily after Yu Tianheng did.
There was no need for You Wulong and Batuer to fight Wang Feng either. They were no match for him to begin with, so after chatting with him on the arena for a while, they conceded as well.
With that, Wang Feng successfully advanced to the finals.
It was a result many people had never expected.
After Wang Feng stepped down from the arena, Hu Liena rushed over excitedly and threw herself into his arms once again, right in front of everyone. Countless hateful gazes immediately fell on him.
Wang Feng had quite a headache. He pulled Hu Liena away and said, "You're not that young anymore. Even if you want to use me as a shield, you don't have to go this far, do you?"
"I don't care. Who made you my senior brother?"
Wang Feng shook his head helplessly and looked at Qian Renxue, only for her to give a cold snort, turn and walk away.
"Senior brother, you have no idea. Sister Xue'er has been worried sick these past few days. She was dying to go look for you herself! You really are something. She missed you so much, and you didn't even think to have Elder Yue send back a message."
"Teacher didn't come, did she?" Wang Feng turned to ask Hu Liena.
"You-hmph! Teacher is the only one senior brother has eyes for." Hu Liena looked jealous and snorted unhappily.
"If you don't want to tell me, forget it. I'm going back."
"You-teacher didn't come, all right? You're not allowed to go back. Come with me to find Sister Xue'er. We have something to tell you."
"I'm not going."
"You have to!" Hu Liena rushed over and forcibly dragged Wang Feng after Qian Renxue. The team assessment was about to begin, but they hadn't formed a team yet!
In the dean's office, Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly.
Yu Tianheng, Tang San and the others stood there, all staring at Yu Xiaogang.
After quite a while, Yu Xiaogang looked at Yu Tianheng and asked, "Tell me, why did you concede?"
"Uncle, I'm no match for Wang Feng at all," Yu Tianheng said, lowering his head.
"You're sure you're no match for him when you haven't even fought him? You're the future clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If that's your attitude when facing an enemy, how can you become a qualified clan leader?"
"Uncle, I've fought him before. Back at the clan, I already fought him once. Even after using my Martial Soul and Soul Skills, I was defeated by him in three moves. My Martial Soul even dissipated on its own."
Yu Tianheng lowered his head even further. The incident had always been a humiliation to him, and it had severely affected his state of mind.
That was also why he had conceded on the arena. He was afraid of losing to Wang Feng again. If that happened, his cultivation might come to a halt prematurely, so he had conceded.
That way, he could create the illusion in his heart that he might not necessarily be a match for Wang Feng.
"You lost in three moves?" Yu Tianheng frowned deeply. Tang San and the others were frowning as well.
"What are his Soul Skills?" Yu Xiaogang continued.
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" Yu Xiaogang frowned tightly. How badly had he been defeated if he didn't even know his opponent's Soul Skills? But Yu Tianheng's next words made Yu Xiaogang cry out in shock.
"Because he didn't use his Martial Soul or Soul Skills at all. He defeated me with the strength of his body alone."
"What! How is that possible!" Yu Xiaogang cried.