Bab 82: Chapter 82: Ye Xinglan's Doubts
Back at the hotel, Tang Wulin quickly recovered, his energy restored as though he'd never been injured.
"Shaoyu, you're amazing!" Tang Wulin's eyes shone with excitement and gratitude.
"Haha, just doing my part," Jing Shaoyu replied casually.
It was clear that Jing Shaoyu had intervened to heal him. After all, as a teammate, it was natural for him to help Tang Wulin recover, especially since they needed him strong and ready to lead the charge in the afternoon's five-person team match. Moreover, under the tournament rules, teams without their full members would be disqualified.
"So, what are your thoughts on this battle?" Wu Zhangkong asked the group.
"Teacher Wu, she's really strong!" Tang Wulin said first. "Her martial soul is powerful, her control over it is impressive, and her combat skills are sharp. Without the special properties of my Golden Dragon Claw, I wouldn't have stood a chance."
Wu Zhangkong nodded, listening, then turned to the others.
"Indeed, she lives up to the reputation of a Shrek Academy student. Reaching such mastery of her sword spirit at her age is remarkable. If I were to fight her, I might need to put in some effort," Jing Shaoyu added.
"She's no match for me," Gu Yue stated simply.
Wu Zhangkong didn't comment on their responses and instead looked at Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie.
"Hehe, Teacher Wu, I felt that Ye Xinglan's martial soul shares a unique quality with mine," Xu Xiaoyan said playfully, "but I think my control could still counter her."
"I… I…" Xie Xie scratched his head awkwardly. "Teacher Wu, I probably wouldn't stand a chance against her. Her skill with her martial soul is way too strong—I doubt I could even get close to her!"
Wu Zhangkong finally responded with a nod. "It's good that you have a clear understanding of yourselves. You've now seen what Shrek students are capable of. While their ranks may not be far ahead of yours, their skill in wielding their martial souls and controlling their own bodies far surpasses yours. This is something you'll need to focus on strengthening in the future."
"Understood!" they all replied in unison.
Wu Zhangkong nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's go eat. We have the team match this afternoon."
At the afternoon team match, Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi arrived at the arena under the guidance of Shen Yi. When Ye Xinglan spotted Tang Wulin, perfectly healthy and lively, standing on the stage, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"How could this be?" she thought, bewildered. Just this morning, she'd covered him in cuts with her sword, and now he looked completely unharmed, as though nothing had happened.
Ye Xinglan couldn't make sense of it.
Shen Yi, the woman leading Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, was Wu Zhangkong's junior disciple. Her eyes searched the arena with anticipation, clearly looking for someone. After scanning the crowd and failing to find him, she seemed disappointed. It was obvious she'd been hoping to see Wu Zhangkong.
As for Jing Shaoyu's team, they faced another team from one of Tianhai Alliance's smaller cities. Like yesterday's opponents, this team consisted of five soul masters, all aged around fifteen. However, their abilities were slightly lacking; only one of them had a hundred-year soul ring, with the other four having double white rings.
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie led the charge again, with Jing Shaoyu supporting from the back while Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue watched the battle calmly. Tang Wulin and Xie Xie easily broke through their opponents' formation, and with Jing Shaoyu's explosive fire and wind techniques, the team won the match in less than five minutes.
With this victory, Donghai Academy's team advanced to the third round of the five-person team competition.
As they left the arena to return to the hotel, Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi blocked their way.
"Hey, Tang Wulin, how did your injuries heal so fast?" Ye Xinglan demanded with a steely gaze, her tone sharp.
"What's it to you?" Before Tang Wulin could reply, Xie Xie snapped, annoyed. "Do you think you're being a bit nosy?"
Ye Xinglan ignored Xie Xie, her eyes fixed on Tang Wulin, as piercing as her sword, making him uncomfortable. He frowned and said, "My teammate's right—this has nothing to do with you. Please step aside; we're going back to the hotel to rest."
"No, I won't let it go until you explain!" Ye Xinglan was relentless, clearly not intending to back down.
"You…" Xie Xie bristled, ready to respond, but a hand pulled him back.
It was Jing Shaoyu. He gestured for Xie Xie to calm down before stepping forward himself.
Ye Xinglan took note, her expression growing more serious. For some reason, she felt a strange sense of connection to the handsome boy in front of her, as though there was something inherently familiar between them. This feeling of closeness both puzzled and put her on guard, so she instinctively took a step back.
Her instincts weren't baseless. Jing Shaoyu's Origin Spirit, the natural essence, had finally begun to reveal its true power now that he'd reached Soul Elder rank. Anyone with a nature-based martial soul would feel an unconscious affinity toward him. The lower their rank, the more they would be influenced.
Ye Xinglan's Star God Sword was also of the natural element, making her susceptible to the aura of Jing Shaoyu's martial soul.
"I don't know what grudge you have with Wulin, but you're being a bit excessive," Jing Shaoyu said, frowning at her. "You already fought him this morning, and now you're pestering him over trivial matters. Do Shrek Academy students usually act so unreasonable?"
"Of course not!" Ye Xinglan retorted defensively, though her attitude softened. "I just want to know why he healed so quickly, that's all!"
"We have a healer in our team," Jing Shaoyu replied.
Realization dawned on Ye Xinglan's face as she nodded. "I see. That makes sense."
"Well then, if you'll excuse us, we're heading back to the hotel." Jing Shaoyu gave her a gentle smile.
"Oh… Alright," Ye Xinglan mumbled, stepping aside with Xu Lizhi, momentarily dazed.
Once the Donghai team had left the arena, Xu Lizhi finally spoke up in a small voice, "Sister Xinglan, I have a question."
"Go ahead," Ye Xinglan replied, still contemplating Jing Shaoyu's explanation.
"That boy said they had a healer, but… what level of healer could restore Tang Wulin that fast?" Xu Lizhi asked, his eyes thoughtful.
"I knew something was off!" Ye Xinglan's expression darkened as she realized she'd been duped. "How dare he lie to me—what a waste of a handsome face! Lizhi, let's go!"
"Uh… where to, Sister Xinglan?"
"To take back our withdrawal application!"
Meanwhile, on the way back to the hotel, Xie Xie was enthusiastically recounting Ye Xinglan's reaction, his face full of amusement.
"Being handsome really has its perks!" Xie Xie remarked. "Not even a Shrek student could resist our captain's looks. Seriously, Shaoyu, you'd probably do just fine even if you weren't a soul master!"
"Haha, really? I don't buy it." Jing Shaoyu chuckled and shook his head. "In this world, strength rules above all else. Without it, good looks can become more of a burden."
"Exactly!" Xu Xiaoyan agreed, nodding. "Xie Xie, you're so shallow. Good looks are just the icing on the cake for Shaoyu. His real strength lies in his soul master talent."
"Alright, alright, I'm shallow. Clearly, I can't match your profound insights, Miss Xu Xiaoyan," Xie Xie teased with a smirk.
Xu Xiaoyan shot him a frustrated look. "You're such a nuisance!"
Laughing and joking, the group made their way back to the hotel. Since there was still time before dinner, they each went to their rooms to rest.
Later, as dinner approached, Jing Shaoyu received a notification to attend the third ro
und of the design competition and a message from Wu Mian, asking him to meet downstairs before eating.
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