Chapter 32: Provocation

The next day, when Cai Wei saw Li Luo up early, she noticed his eyes were a bit dark, his spirit slightly listless, looking as though he hadn't slept well the night before.

"What's wrong? Didn't sleep well?" Cai Wei asked with concern.

Li Luo shook his head and smiled. "There's a preliminary exam coming up at the academy, so the pressure's a bit much, I guess."

He didn't mention the match against Song Song Yunfeng scheduled for today—no need to.

Cai Wei tilted her lovely oval face slightly, an encouraging smile appearing on her fair, beautiful cheeks. "Go for it, you can definitely do it."

"Oh, by the way, Yan Yan Lingqing was asking about you yesterday. She said you didn't go to the Sunny Sun House."

Li Luo quickly shoveled a few bites of plain porridge and said, "Once the preliminary exam is over, I'll shift my focus to the Sunny Sun House for now. If Sister Yan Lingqing misses me, I'll spend more time with her then."

Cai Wei smiled faintly. "Why don't you say that to her face?"

"Obviously because I'm afraid she'll beat me to death."

Li Luo said honestly, then wolfed down the rest of his food. After exchanging a word with Cai Wei, he nimbly got up and ran out.

Cai Wei helplessly watched Li Luo's hurried back, shook her head slightly, then gracefully went back to her own meal, savoring each bite as she finished her breakfast.

"Li Luo."

When Li Luo had just arrived at Southwind Academy, he heard a crisp voice from the side, and then he saw Lv Qing'er standing prettily beneath a lush, shady tree to his right.

Today's Lv Qing'er wore the black short-skirted academy uniform; her ice-and-snow-like skin looked even more striking against the black, and her slender waist and the snow-white, straight long legs beneath the short skirt immediately drew the gazes of many nearby youths pretending to chat with their companions, though their eyes couldn't help but drift her way.

Hearing Lv Qing'er's greeting, Li Luo walked over and smiled at her.

"I heard you ran into Song Song Yunfeng today?" Lv Qing'er asked, her willow brows slightly furrowed.

Li Luo smiled and nodded.

"So what do you plan to do?" Lv Qing'er said.

Li Luo thought for a moment, then said frankly, "Most likely I'll concede directly."

Hearing this, Lv Qing'er actually let out a light laugh, but without any trace of mockery. Instead, she nodded seriously. "That's a very rational choice. You don't need to compete with him right now. Given your talent in phase arts, the gap between you two will gradually shrink."

Li Luo nodded. "I think so too."

Lv Qing'er was silent for a moment, then said, "This matter might have something to do with me as well. I'm really sorry."

Li Luo smiled. "Actually, you were just a small trigger. It's more about the dispute between the Song family and House Luolan Mansion. Of course, I think there's one more important thing... Song Song Yunfeng is afraid."

"Afraid?" Lv Qing'er blinked her almond-shaped eyes.

Li Luo smiled lightly. "He's afraid I'll become like I once was, that he'll only ever exist in my shadow. If that happens, all his efforts over these years will become a joke."

If anyone else heard this, they'd probably laugh at Li Luo for being overly boastful. After all, Song Song Yunfeng's reputation at Southwind Academy was far greater than Li Luo's.

But Lv Qing'er fell into thought, because she knew very well how glorious Li Luo had once been at Southwind Academy. Even she herself now found it hard to reach that level, let alone Song Song Yunfeng.

"So he wants to crush you while you haven't fully risen, to use that to strengthen his own heart?"

Li Luo nodded. "That's probably it."

Lv Qing'er's pretty face grew slightly solemn. "If that's the case, he probably won't let you concede so easily today."

Li Luo said, "I hope it won't come to that. If it really does..."

He waved at Lv Qing'er, then headed toward the Second Academy. A voice drifted back, faint and indistinct.

"Then there's nothing to be done."

Lv Qing'er watched his back, somewhat surprised, because Li Luo's demeanor didn't really look like someone with no options. Could he have some other way to avoid the match against Song Song Yunfeng?

Li Luo's first match ended without any surprises, and his second match was scheduled as the final bout of the preliminary exam.

Like a closing battle.

The plaza was abuzz with noise, a dark mass of heads surging.

On the high platform, Old Dean Wei Sha watched the battle alongside mentors like Xu Xu Shanyue and Lin Feng of Southwind Academy.

"Heh, didn't expect Li Luo to run into Song Song Yunfeng. What do you think—will this one actually get fought?" the old dean asked with a smile.

Lin Feng smiled faintly. "Dean, what's the point of a match like this?"

Xu Xu Shanyue sighed inwardly. "They probably won't fight. In a completely lopsided match like this, just concede directly—no need to keep going. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Although Li Luo was one of their Second Academy's, Xu Xu Shanyue couldn't bring himself to stubbornly root for him, because this was a match that couldn't be turned around.

The gap between them was too vast. There was simply no way to fight.

The old dean nodded and sighed. "Li Luo has now broken into the top twenty—that's very fast. Given more time, catching up to Song Song Yunfeng wouldn't be a problem, but at this point in time, he's still lacking a bit of polish."

Lin Feng neither agreed nor disagreed. In his view, the only thing Li Luo had over Song Song Yunfeng was his phase arts talent, but Song Song Yunfeng also possessed a seventh-grade phase, which was an advantage Li Luo couldn't reach. So for Li Luo to catch up to Song Song Yunfeng probably wouldn't be so easy.

As they chatted, the time for the match arrived quietly amid the waiting.

Song Song Yunfeng's figure shot up from the ground, landing gracefully on the battle stage. His tall frame and handsome face gave him a dignified, commanding air.

With Song Song Yunfeng's appearance, the arena immediately erupted in fervent cheers, showing just how much reputation and fame he currently enjoyed at Southwind Academy.

On the other side of the battle stage, Li Luo also stepped up under the gaze of the crowd.

"So handsome! Even more handsome than Song Song Yunfeng!"

Although Li Luo didn't have any flashy entrance, the moment he stood on the stage, he drew exclamations from many young girls. After all, Li Luo, who had inherited his parents' fine genes, was truly top-tier in looks—easily a notch above Song Song Yunfeng.

However, as for all the factors outside the stage, both contestants on stage had pretty solid mental fortitude, so they both chose to ignore them entirely.

Li Luo stared at Song Song Yunfeng, then raised one hand.

But before he could speak, Song Song Yunfeng said flatly, "Are you planning to concede directly?"

Li Luo smiled. "Are you planning to use words to humiliate me and provoke me next?"

Song Song Yunfeng lifted an eyelid and said blandly, "It's not about humiliating you. I just think that having a son like you, your parents are somewhat fame-seeking frauds."

At these words, the arena outside immediately grew much quieter, because no one had expected Song Song Yunfeng's words this time to be so cutting.

Li Luo was also stunned for a moment, then he gave Song Song Yunfeng a thumbs-up. "Impressive. A killing blow."

"Since it's come to this..."

Li Luo rolled his neck and smiled at Song Song Yunfeng, but those pale teeth looked somewhat chillingly cold.

"Come on, Song family pup. I'll give you one chance, but whether you can bite off some meat depends entirely on whether you truly have the ability."