Chapter 394

Below the platform, the audience's emotions were like ignited flames, fervent and tense.

Cui Cui's hands were clenched into fists, her knuckles white from the force, worry shrouding her brow like dark clouds, her eyes filled entirely with concern for Feng Yuhuai.

Zhang Liyou's eyes were wide and round, as if trying to swallow the entire platform into her gaze; her fists also unconsciously clenched tight, every heartbeat accompanied by a trembling at her fingertips.

Feng Ju's face was stiff as iron, his mechanical fists emitting a faint yet grating creak from excessive force.

In his heart, the originally beautiful fantasy — his filial daughter winning the championship in one stroke, surrounded by tidal waves of cheers from the masses — was now like fragile foam, teetering on the brink of shattering beneath Tian Xiaohai's fists, liable to dissipate into nothingness at any moment.

In contrast, Feng Mu appeared exceptionally calm and composed, a gentle yet firm smile always hanging at the corner of his mouth, an unconditional trust in and support for his younger sister.

As if no matter how difficult the road ahead, he could become her most solid backing, protecting her "completely".

On the presidium, Zuo Bai wore a spotless white suit, every crease of which seemed meticulously carved, exuding a refined and noble air, like an elegant young master from the Upper City, a unique perfume scent drifting on the wind.

He wore a smile, his gaze deep and sharp, lenses flashing a ghostly light in the sunlight, observing Feng Yuhuai's every minute expression, every rise and fall of breath, as if placed under a microscope.

【Nerve Reaction Speed B】

【Muscle Strength C】

【Body Flexibility S】

【…….】

Line after line of detected numerical assessments displayed on his lenses, and even more values were still calculating, or required more intuitive observation methods.

Zuo Bai's eyes revealed a scientist's rationality and calm, as if everything was under control, even time seeming to slow under his gaze.

His fingers lightly stroked the black-rimmed glasses, a specific frequency signal transmitted from his fingertips, propagating through invisible electromagnetic waves.

In the sewer passage of the Girls' Dormitory Building, a phone that had been extinguished suddenly lit up, its screen light flickering in the darkness like a firefly, exceptionally glaring.

A burly, humanoid monster wearing tattered pajamas slowly extended its arm covered in keratin scales, and abruptly seized the phone.

The image displayed on the screen instantly captured its full attention — precisely the perilous scene on the platform where Feng Yuhuai was forced into a desperate situation.

Yet even in such a predicament, she still maintained that lovely, beautiful face; that resilience and beauty instantly seized the monster's eyeballs dead tight.

Around the phone, a group of identically twisted, hideous monsters of the same kind rapidly gathered, squeezing against each other, jostling to crowd together, eyes fixed straight on the screen.

From their mouths came bursts of hissing strange sounds, as if from the depths of hell, containing complex and frantic emotions.

Anger burned fiercely in their hearts, turning their eyeballs bloodshot red;

Excitement like wild horses galloping, rampaging inside their bodies, making their limbs tremble involuntarily;

Jealousy like a venomous snake's hiss, coiling and raging in the depths of their hearts, gnawing at their deformed souls.

Interwoven together, they converged into a powerful torrent of emotion, roaring angrily in the dark sewer, actually emitting syllables vaguely resembling human speech:

"Oh Men, want Matriarch, offspring, her!" (ps: Us, want spotlight, replace, her!)

Bang—

Fist shadows fell with a start, blood sprayed flying.

Feng Yuhuai's body was like a leaf blown up by a gale, flung halfway out, yet in midair she strangely traced a half-circle, landing back on the platform, standing firm and steady.

The two pairs of eyes met; Tian Xiaohai's face was slightly fierce, he shook his fist, casually sprinkling the blood stained on it onto the platform.

A flush of red spread across Feng Yuhuai's chest; the red rope binding her ponytail at the back of her head was broken loose by her wildly dancing hair, unraveling into messy strands, which her slender fingers gently wound around her fingertips, circle after circle, as if narrating her state of mind at this moment.

The habitual sweet smile on her face had vanished completely, replaced by a face as cold and severe as deep winter.

Her brows and eyes half-narrowed, the former delicate softness gone without a trace, replaced by a bone-piercing chill.

That originally ink-smooth long hair now danced wildly without cease, like enraged mad snakes whipping about in the wind.

Her whole person seemed transformed, her entire body emitting a frigid aura, causing Tian Xiaohai's expression to turn grave.

Feng Mu's face below the platform did not change, he merely curled his mouth, murmuring in his heart:

"My foolish Imoto, under the gaze of the masses you truly refuse to lose, even at the cost of revealing part of your true self; most people wear 【masks】 to hide themselves, yet you wear a 【mask】 to enjoy the spotlight.

Your vision is this shallow, Brother truly fears you won't make it to the end!"

Then, Feng Mu let out a light sigh, his gaze shifting slightly to Tian Xiaohai, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face:

"On the contrary, Tao Tian's son performs with truly fierce valor, not disappointing me at all. When he later comes to the Second Prison, he can be properly cultivated."

Indeed, the Tian Xiaohai on the platform was precisely the son left behind by Tian Tao.

In the distance, Cui Cui had been holding her breath, focusing intently on the battle above. At this moment, she let out a long breath, but then immediately revealed a hint of shock:

"Yu Huai hasn't lost yet, but her complexion looks a bit scary, not quite like the usual Yu Huai."

Zhang Liyou's eyes stared wide, fixed dead on the red thread wound around Feng Yuhuai's fingertips, voice trembling slightly:

"Cui Cui, have you ever thought that Yu Huai's sweetness might just be her disguise, and her current appearance is the real her?"

Feng Ju swung his fist heavily, his face full of excitement, the few wrinkles on his forehead even more pronounced from this agitation.

The cold severity now showing on the filial daughter's face was something he had never seen before.

However, his eyes held not the slightest surprise or worry, but rather a deep acknowledgment and expectation.

In Feng Ju's view, his obedient daughter's usual compliance was certainly good, but adding some cold severity was undoubtedly adding a layer of armor to protect herself.

Only thus, in this world full of competition and challenges, could she walk farther, climb to higher positions.

Tian Xiaohai's gaze locked onto the red thread winding in Feng Yuhuai's hand, his brows furrowing slightly, a few doubts rising in his heart:

"Could it be she used this red thread to pull herself back onto the platform? This thread is actually this tough?"

He shook his head, casting those pointless distracting thoughts to the back of his mind, forcing himself to concentrate.

He said in a deep voice:

"Junior Sister's skill truly surprises me; if it were yesterday, I might have already admitted defeat. After all, the current ranking already satisfies me greatly, but today won't do.

Today there is a benefactor very important to me in the audience, I must win!"

His voice was firm and powerful, conveying an unshakable determination.

Feng Mu below the platform froze slightly, suddenly realizing the benefactor Tian Xiaohai spoke of might be himself.

The corner of his mouth unconsciously hooked into an arc, his heart exceptionally comforted:

"Not bad. Tian Xiaohai is a child who knows gratitude. Tian Tao, Tian Tao, I didn't expect you to be quite good at educating your son. Mm, very good. Your spirit in heaven can rest in peace now…."

Chapter End