Chapter 40 : Chapter 40
Chapter 40
After a brief intermission, the first match to come was the duel between Xie Chang’an and Lu Qingyin.
Ji Qing had intended to watch in person, but after considering the likely noise level of the crowd, he regretfully chose to watch remotely.
The identities of the two contestants in this match were full of dramatic contrast: one was the young lady of a prominent family, representing the deep-rooted ability system of the wasteland; the other was a commoner youth who had fought his way here solely with his swordsmanship.
The established order and a nascent power were about to collide.
Ji Qing couldn't help but hear their names mentioned multiple times by passing students. Compared to the duel between Zhou Que and Feng Youyou, this one clearly had more dramatic tension.
Xie Chang’an’s starting point in Class F was too low, while Lu Qingyin, a prodigy in the music world, was also quite famous.
In comparison, the status gap between Zhou Que and Feng Youyou wasn't as significant. Although Feng Youyou had never disclosed her family background, as an A-rank ability user, it was highly probable that her parents were also ability users.
The children of ability users were also beneficiaries of the wasteland's ability system.
A thoughtful look crossed Ji Qing’s face. After all, if they followed the students' line of thinking, his and Song Xiaoran's parents should also be ability users.
But Song Xiaoran was an orphan, and Ji Qing himself had no memories at all.
Time ticked by, and the moment of the match drew closer. Just as the entire school was anticipating the fight, Li Xuehua asked with a gentle smile during the next day's class, "Class, are any of you planning to watch the match tomorrow?"
Ji Qing’s gaze immediately shifted from the scenery outside the window back to the podium. He secretly guessed: It seems to be because of that 'team compatibility' matter. The teacher probably wants to test our attitudes.
"Of course, we have to watch," Zhou Que said lazily, propping his chin on his hand. "After all, the winner is my opponent in the next round. How can I not gather some intel beforehand?"
"It's the semi-finals, so we should definitely pay attention," Song Xiaoran said gently.
"Teacher, why are you suddenly asking this?" Shao Huayu asked with a smile, his hands elegantly crossed. Although his tone carried a hint of confusion, his expression made it clear he was feigning ignorance.
"Well—" Seeing this, Li Xuehua gave up on trying to fish for information and confessed tactfully, "I wanted to ask if everyone plans to watch it live or on their terminals?"
Zhou Que said with annoyance, "There are too many people at the venue. I have no desire to be watched like a monkey."
You Xingluo asked tentatively, "Teacher, are you planning to…"
Beside them, Ling You’er grew more and more flustered as she listened. She protested with a rare and firm attitude, "I will absolutely not go watch it live!"
Everyone's attention immediately turned to Ling You’er.
Ling You’er nervously twisted the fabric of her clothes, but still stubbornly cried out, "I will absolutely not go watch it live! Please don't include me in any class activities!"
Ji Qing found this amusing.
However, he forced himself not to laugh out loud, since this was a rare occasion of Ling You’er speaking up on her own initiative. He thought Ling You’er must have misunderstood and thought Li Xuehua wanted them all to go to the venue together.
Li Xuehua’s expression froze, and her composure completely crumbled.
She spoke rapidly, "I just wanted to ask if you all wanted to watch the next few matches in the classroom. The school wants me to gather your opinions on the top contestants… I’m really just doing my job…"
"Please don't make things difficult for your teacher, okay? QAQ."
Zhou Que burst out laughing upon hearing this, while Ling You’er blinked blankly. "Huh?"
Seeing things develop in a direction he hadn't anticipated, a smile couldn't help but curve Shao Huayu's lips. He chimed in at the right moment, "Of course, I'm fine with it."
"I'm fine with it," Song Xiaoran said sympathetically.
"Me too." You Xingluo raised his hand with a smile, his tone tinged with pity. "But Teacher, please be direct next time. After all, not everyone can guess your intentions."
Ji Qing nodded in deep agreement.
He had already planned to watch remotely, so he didn't care whether he watched with his classmates or not. But this did align with his plans; he was somewhat curious to know what his classmates thought of the three remaining contestants.
Ling You’er mumbled awkwardly in a small voice, "...I'm fine with it too."
And so, during the match time the next day, Class S gathered together, a rare sight.
The teaching building was nearly empty.
Because the duels of the top four were a good learning experience for many students, even teachers whose class times clashed with the match were willing to let their students go.
Only Class S was an exception.
When Ji Qing arrived at the classroom, he found that everyone else had already arrived. Ling You’er, who was sitting in the front row, greeted him in a low voice when she saw him. "Good afternoon."
Ji Qing was inwardly surprised but still responded with a smile, "Good afternoon."
He thought with some bewilderment, Has Ling You’er become a bit more cheerful? Did she greet me specifically because I responded to her earlier? That can't be it…
Not being socially anxious himself, Ji Qing couldn't guess her thoughts.
He gave up trying to figure it out and calmly sat down in his seat. Just as he settled in, Li Xuehua rushed in right as the bell rang.
As she operated the projector, she apologized, "I was held up on the way. I hope you weren't waiting too long."
"There's still a little while before the match starts," Shao Huayu pointed out elegantly.
"No problem—" Zhou Que drawled in response, but he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Teacher, during tomorrow's match, you guys aren't going to be observing as well, are you?"
"It seems likely," Li Xuehua said with a smile.
"Don't comment on me," Zhou Que protested with a look of displeasure. "The match is boring enough as it is. It would be so awkward to come back and find out my own classmates were critiquing me."
"Zhou Que's match?" Song Xiaoran paused upon hearing this, then turned to look at Zhou Que. "I've watched a few of your matches, but I couldn't figure out your fighting style."
Zhou Que immediately looked disdainful. "It's all because my opponents were too weak. I haven't had a single satisfying fight. I'm not even as good as Xie Chang’an."
"Is he very strong?"
"He's alright," Zhou Que replied nonchalantly. "He's strong in close combat, but he can be completely controlled from a distance. It's just that very few people in this school can do that."
"Long-range, huh…" Song Xiaoran murmured thoughtfully. "That happens to be my area of expertise."
Ji Qing's pupils were constricted.
He suddenly realized that Song Xiaoran's and Xie Chang’an's fighting styles were complementary. Song Xiaoran was not good at close combat, but his long-range and support abilities were pushed to the extreme.
No way… Ji Qing was instantly reminded of the forum post he had read. He thought strangely, Speaking of which—Zhou Que, you haven't stopped talking about Xie Chang’an during this entire individual competition. Don't you have any self-awareness?
Ji Qing's brow twitched.
He hadn't thought anything was amiss before, but now he saw signs everywhere. If Song Xiaoran really did end up teaming with Xie Chang’an, Zhou Que would undoubtedly be the biggest contributor.
But after that sentence, the two of them stopped talking.
Song Xiaoran’s gaze returned to the projector screen, which conveniently began showing the live feed of the match. No one else reacted to Song Xiaoran's words; only Ji Qing had caught the implication.
It would seem abnormal to ask about it now.
So Ji Qing suppressed his desire to ask and tried to shift his attention back to the match itself, but it wasn't so easy to redirect his focus.
Ji Qing’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
The incident in the cafeteria had been caused by the conflict between Song Xiaoran and Xie Chang’an. If the two of them teamed up, the result would be too absurd. But the more Ji Qing thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Song Xiaoran had previously expressed his need for the scholarship money.
Although Ji Qing himself didn't need it, Song Xiaoran might want to get it. After all, Song Xiaoran's mental state before enrolling was not suitable for dangerous work, so he was likely tight on money right now.
If that's the case…
Ji Qing nearly lost control of his expression.
Beside him, You Xingluo keenly sensed that something was wrong and asked in a low voice, "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing," Ji Qing couldn't help but cover his face.
He sorted through his complicated thoughts and forced his gaze back to the projection screen. The individual competition was about to begin; he couldn't focus too much on the team competition for now.
You Xingluo blinked in confusion at this but said nothing more.
On the stage, both Xie Chang’an and Lu Qingyin had entered.
The two stood on opposite sides of the ring, each with a complex expression. Xie Chang’an was tense about the duel, while Lu Qingyin's feelings toward Xie Chang’an were more subtle.
Before this duel, she had never imagined she would face Xie Chang’an.
All she could say was that the experience her elders had taught her did not apply to Xie Chang’an. Lu Qingyin lowered her head and plucked a string, checking the condition of her violin one last time before the match.
The crisp sound of the violin string improved her mood somewhat.
The referee glanced at the terminal on his arm for the third time; the start time was imminent. He immediately blew his whistle and announced, "Both contestants are in position! The match is about to begin!"
Xie Chang’an’s body tensed abruptly.
He subconsciously placed his hand on his Tang Saber and lowered his stance. Long-range is Lu Qingyin's strength, but close combat isn't, Xie Chang’an thought, forcing himself to remain calm.
Compared to the other two contestants, both of their weaknesses were obvious.
Lu Qingyin would definitely try to create distance and suppress him, while he had to close the distance as quickly as possible and defeat her. Although the match could last a long time, the decisive moment would be over in an instant.
What they were both fighting for was the initial advantage.
In a flash, Lu Qingyin's and Xie Chang’an’s eyes met. Both contestants sensed the other’s intentions.
"Ready—Begin!"
With the sound of the starting horn, the Tang Saber was drawn in a flash.
Without even taking the time to get a firm grip on his saber, Xie Chang’an charged straight toward his opponent. The violin was already resting on Lu Qingyin's shoulder, the bow about to play the first note.
There was no prelude, no buildup; the piece she played was a direct excerpt from the climax.
Lu Qingyin had completely abandoned the idea of performing a full piece, intending to hold victory firmly in her hands. Invisible sound waves materialized in front of her, transforming into a tide of blades that rushed toward her opponent.
Xie Chang’an dodged the sound waves while continuing to close the distance.
Even though a few cuts appeared on his body and face, the speed of his charge did not slow. Recalling everything he had seen since the start of the individual competition, Xie Chang’an gritted his teeth and thought:
He had to win this match!
Seeing this, Lu Qingyin immediately understood that her current offensive was useless against Xie Chang’an. With a flick of her bow, the sound waves transformed into gusts of wind that swept across the ground in all directions.
As the music intensified, the blades and wind intertwined, becoming an obstacle to her opponent's advance.
Xie Chang’an’s speed was considerable. If she wanted to reasonably seize the advantage… Lu Qingyin thought for a moment, and soon the sound waves formed a tornado.
Her dress fluttered in the wind.
The air pressure gradually dropped, until her figure, supported by the sound waves, showed signs of levitating. Since my opponent can only fight at close range, Lu Qingyin thought, I will make it impossible for him to approach me.
Xie Chang’an’s pupils constricted at the sight.
He realized Lu Qingyin’s intention; the rising tornado was also the best defensive measure. If he allowed the tornado to form, the result would be his defeat.
But Xie Chang’an forcibly suppressed his unease, steadily dealing with the sound waves assailing him from all sides.
Time passed, drop by drop, and the distance between them grew smaller. The students in the spectator area were too nervous to speak. Only the sound of the wind and the violin echoed through the arena.
In the final moment before the tornado fully formed, Lu Qingyin calmly continued to draw her bow, ever vigilant of her surroundings. She looked at the blurred figure behind the layer of wind, and a triumphant smile appeared on her lips.
CLANG—
A blinding silver flash streaked across her vision. Before Lu Qingyin could react, the sound of a snapping string drew her attention back to her violin.
A silver blade fragment was embedded in her instrument.
The tornado formed by the sound waves instantly showed signs of dissipating. Lu Qingyin stared grimly at the blade fragment, which was less than a few centimeters away from her.
The outcome was already decided.
This blade fragment that had severed her string was the best proof. Lu Qingyin could continue to fight. Even without her beloved violin, she could rely on the sound waves of nature, on the sound waves of her own voice, to battle on.
But would that truly be a victory?
If the opponent’s aim had been off by just a few centimeters, she would have died here. There was no mercy from opponents when exploring the Danger Zones, and no hesitation when fighting Aberrants.
No—
What if it was just a coincidence? What if it was just someone's careless throw?
Lu Qingyin refuted herself with difficulty, word by word: The arena has a barrier up. Besides the referee, there will be no outside interference. There's no need to doubt that.
Since her opponent had accomplished this, no matter how he did it, she should acknowledge it.
This blade fragment came from Xie Chang’an’s hand, and it had unexpectedly "slit" her throat. Even if this was truly a fluke, she ought to accept it.
As the heir to the Lu family, she needed to accept her defeat.
Finally, Lu Qingyin lowered her bow.
The layer of wind abruptly dissipated.
Lu Qingyin once again saw the clear, panting figure of Xie Chang’an.
He looked quite battered at this moment. His clothes and face were covered with wounds from the sound waves he couldn't dodge, and even his trusty Tang Saber was cracked.
The blade fragment from just now was a piece of that saber.
In contrast, Lu Qingyin’s attire was still elegant and neat.
But Lu Qingyin immediately noticed the wound on his palm, proof that he had gripped the blade fragment tightly. Xie Chang’an had also hesitated, had also struggled.
He couldn't be sure if the thrown blade would be able to avoid hitting Lu Qingyin herself.
"What's going on? Why did they stop fighting?"
"Who won?"
"Did Lu Qingyin win?"
Confused chatter immediately spread through the spectator area, and the referee was also watching the situation with puzzlement. For the first time in her life, Lu Qingyin seriously sized up another person.
She said softly, "You're quite something."
There was no longer any need to ask; the truth was laid bare before her. Lu Qingyin calmly took a few steps forward and showed her broken violin to the referee and the audience.
"The winner is Xie Chang’an!"
As the referee’s voice fell, Xie Chang’an fully snapped back to reality. He knelt on the stage, looking down with a complicated expression at the Tang Saber that had been with him for so many years, and finally let out a long sigh.
The audience was still immersed in their shock over "how Xie Chang’an won."
Because the tornado on the stage had obstructed their view, it took a long time for the audience to react. There was no applause, no cheers, but Xie Chang’an, the victor, didn't care.
"...It's over."
Xie Chang’an instantly collapsed to the ground. Out of the corner of his eye, he happened to glimpse Gu Lingxue rushing toward him, and Lu Qingyin walking away with her back straight.
Xie Chang’an suddenly realized that the people he had met… were actually all good people.