Chapter 49 Public Opinion Storm, A Showdown Without Suspense

“See you at the combat stage after class.” Your words still echoed in the classroom, the reverberations lingering.

Under the dumbfounded gazes of the entire class, you withdrew your hand.

You calmly returned to your seat.

You opened the «Martial Arts Theory Foundation» on your desk, your expression focused.

It was as if the audacious person who had publicly confessed to the Iceberg School Beauty and even made a bet was not you.

Just as you were secretly pleased with your cleverness, thinking that this “bait” was heavy enough...

The shadow beneath your feet suddenly trembled slightly.

Cold Kite, hidden in your shadow, couldn't sit still any longer.

As your personal bodyguard, she had witnessed the entire, almost “magical,” Love Confession.

This move of yours completely threw her off.

“What exactly does this kid want to do?”

Cold Kite, curled up in the dimensional rift of the shadow, was full of questions.

“Isn't he a steady, introverted, honest child who only knows how to study?”

“Is that his persona at school?”

“So openly provoking a young lady from an influential family, and a core target of the Heart-Eroding Cult at that.”

“Is there a risk of exposing his identity?”

“Or could it be...”

Cold Kite looked at your face, which, though calm, still showed a hint of youthful spirit.

An absurd guess arose in her heart.

“Is this kid too suppressed from practicing martial arts, and now he's in heat?”

“Well, he's only seventeen.”

“And with both parents gone, he really lacks love.”

“This age is indeed the most youthful, but also the most suppressed.”

“Facing a school beauty of this caliber, a moment of impulse is understandable...”

“But, it still doesn't feel right? What exactly does he want?”

Cold Kite felt her worldview being challenged.

She even began to doubt if she was protecting the wrong person.

Is such a person, whose mind is full of romance,

Truly the meticulous Lone Wolf who dared to venture alone into a cult stronghold?

“Forget it, it doesn't matter.”

Cold Kite sighed helplessly and stabilized her form again.

“Let's wait and see. Anyway, there's still Elder Zhao above to back him up.”

“As long as he doesn't collude with the enemy and betray the country, if he wants to fall in love... I can only endure it.”

...

Time flew by.

In the afternoon, during the long break.

In just over an hour, the news of your confession and bet with Liu Xiyue

Spread throughout Longnan No. 1 High School like it had grown wings.

That's right, this is the power of super gossip.

During this dull and oppressive high school College Entrance Examination preparation period, students' nerves were stretched to their limits.

Nothing stimulated their adrenaline more than such “top-tier gossip.”

What's more, this was a clash between two prominent figures.

Rumors snowballed, becoming increasingly outrageous, even spawning countless versions.

“Poor Boy vs. Young Miss from an Influential Family!” — This was the most basic version.

“Former Longnan Middle School's Number One vs. Current Longnan Middle School's Number One!” — This was the passionate competition version.

“Poor Boy Falls for Rich Young Miss!” — This was the romance novel version.

“The Forbidden Love between a Gentle Assistant Instructor and an Iceberg Young Miss!” — This was the fanfiction version that came from who knows where.

There were even more outrageous ones: “Young Miss Xiyue Wants Me to Confess? (Confessed Already) Genius's Love Martial Arts Battle!”

In just one hour, discussion posts about this match had accumulated thousands of replies on the campus forum.

There were as many as 88 versions! Not far from 99.

By the time the dismissal bell rang, the entire school was abuzz.

Combat Training Hall.

The hall, which usually only had dozens of people training, was now packed to the brim.

It was overcrowded and very noisy.

Even first and second-year high school students came to join the fun, and the second-floor stands were crowded with teachers.

In the crowd, Wu Changhe, with a dark expression, struggled to push his way to the front.

“Move aside! Everyone move aside! What are you looking at?! Have you finished your homework?!”

He had been drinking tea in his office.

Upon hearing the news, he nearly spat his tea onto the screen and rushed over in a hurry.

He wasn't just there to watch the excitement; he was also there to be the referee, needing to ensure the safety of both individuals.

After all, the two people at the center of this storm were closely related to him.

One was his prized Disciple, his “lineage successor” whom he had watched rise step by step from Trash.

The other was his biggest client recently.

Both were dear to him; he would feel pain if either was hurt.

“Ahem.”

Wu Changhe cleared his throat and stepped onto the stage.

His gaze pierced through the crowd, landing precisely on you.

He looked at you with a complex expression, finally giving you a subtle glance.

“Good kid, don't worry, leave it to me.”

“With me here, nothing will go wrong.”

You received the signal, smiled faintly, and stepped onto the stage.

Opposite you, Liu Xiyue had been waiting for a long time.

She had changed into a crisp white training uniform, holding the unsharpened training soft sword.

Standing there, she was like an arrogant ice Peak; the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

“You're here.”

Liu Xiyue looked at you, her eyes not showing much hostility, but rather a hint of imperceptible admonition.

“Li Ang, it's not too late to regret it now.”

Her voice was cold and clear, audible only to the two of you.

“Don't lose too badly, it'll affect your performance tonight.”

“Right, Assistant Instructor Li?”

Although these words weren't pleasant, you understood their deeper meaning.

She had investigated you and knew you were an orphan, poor, and desperately in need of money.

She was worried that a devastating public defeat would make you lose your credibility as a gold medal teaching assistant, thereby cutting off your source of income.

After all, like you, she had no parents.

This feeling of shared misfortune made her more patient with you.

However, you had your plan.

“Regret?”

You looked at her, unmoved by her words.

You unbuttoned your school uniform collar, stretched your wrists, and a confident, almost devilish smile appeared on your face.

“Student Liu, thank you for your concern.”

“However, rest assured, I will definitely win today.”

Liu Xiyue looked into your eyes, the light within them was too bright.

Too certain, even making her feel a hint of absurdity.

She looked at the mysterious confidence in your eyes.

The trace of pity in her eyes instantly vanished, replaced by the arrogance of a Genius.

“Stubborn fool!”

Liu Xiyue snorted coldly, and the soft sword in her hand let out a clear, ringing hum.

“You won't shed tears until you see the coffin! Today, I'll show you what a true Genius is!”

Her Aura suddenly erupted.

The pressure of the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood Peak, mixed with the cold Qi of her ice-elemental Ability, instantly swept across the entire venue.

Looking at the swirling frost, your heart remained calm, even feeling a little emotional.

This was your third encounter with Liu Xiyue.

In your mind, images of your previous two encounters flashed like a revolving lantern, memories spanning time and space.

First encounter:

That was the combat stage from the last simulation.

You were at the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood, she was at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood and had undergone a second Awakening of her Ability.

Facing absolute Realm and attribute suppression, you lost without suspense.

Second encounter:

That was the holographic combat simulation for the Martial Arts College Entrance Examination.

You were at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood, she was at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood.

You had an Acquired Water-elemental Ability Awakening, she had a second Awakening.

You narrowly won by relying on your fierce

And the third time, which is now...

You looked at the confident young girl before you.

Instead of feeling nervous, you felt a sense of guilt, like bullying a child.

“This is also a unique kind of 'cross-Realm combat' for me, a downward compatible version.”

You are at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood Perfection, disguised as Seventh Stage with Hiding the Edge; she is at the Eighth Stage of Qi and Blood.

In terms of Realm, you are crushing her.

You have an Acquired Water-elemental Ability Awakening, she has an Innate Ice-elemental Ability Awakening.

In terms of Physique, both are Ability Martial Artist.

Although your attribute is countered, the impact is not significant.

More importantly, you possess Basic Saber Technique Perfection and Nine Layers of Overlapping Waves Perfection.

You even master saber secret techniques capable of threatening Kaiyuan Realm Experts!

In terms of techniques, you are performing a dimensionality reduction strike.

“Who wins and who loses, there's no suspense.”

“But this time, I want not just the result of winning, but also to win the process.”

Your gaze passed over Liu Xiyue, seemingly looking at a pair of eyes in the Void Realm.

That Masked Man of the Heart-Eroding Cult who might be secretly observing, and that so-called Principal Liao Xianyu.

“I want to win without controversy, to win comprehensively, to win by crushing!”

“Only by demonstrating absolute value can I make those monsters hiding in the shadows eager to make a move against me!”

You slowly drew the training alloy combat saber.

There was no Qi and Blood Wolf Smoke, no Crimson Gauze covering your body.

You just stood there quietly, like a bottomless lake, so calm it was unsettling.

“Both sides step back!”

Wu Changhe stood on the referee platform, looking at the two individuals poised for battle, raising his flag high.

He could feel the tension in the air, a needle-point-to-awl confrontation that even he, a Kaiyuan Realm Expert, felt a thrill from.

After all, the Martial Dao must be contested!

The entire venue held its breath.

As the two of you retreated to opposite sides of the combat stage, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Wu Changhe took a deep breath, then forcefully waved the flag and shouted loudly.

“The match... begins!”