Chapter 394: Reward

Li Luo nearly choked on Jiang Jiang Qinge's words.

"That's hardly the case, is it? Lu Qing'er hasn't done anything," Li Luo said, scratching his head.

Jiang Jiang Qinge chuckled softly in her heart; hadn't done anything? Lu Qing'er had previously openly demanded she dissolve her engagement with Li Luo. Although Lu Qing'er's reason was that there was no true "love" between her and Li Luo, and this engagement was a burden to both sides, daring to make such a request to her face was quite arrogant.

Compared to this, what were Zhao Zhao Huiyin's little tricks today?

However, with Jiang Jiang Qinge's proud nature, she certainly wouldn't say these words to Li Luo; if there truly was a problem, she would resolve it properly herself.

"I know Zhao Zhao Huiyin's purpose, so I am willing to let her feel she has achieved it. Later, during the Ticket Match, if she tries some tricks because of this, I might as well play along with her scheme and see who ends up suffering in the end," Jiang Jiang Qinge said, setting down her teacup.

Li Luo was somewhat speechless; so he had directly become a pawn in the game between the two women?

"With your strength, do you still need to play this game?" Li Luo said helplessly.

That Zhao Zhao Huiyin might be strong, but regarding Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo had absolute confidence.

"Even a lion uses its full strength when grappling a rabbit; saving some effort is naturally good. Zhao Zhao Huiyin is very smart; if she can be outsmarted by her own cleverness, that would be a good result."

Jiang Jiang Qinge chuckled lightly and said, "However, this woman is extremely cunning; my previous performance might not truly deceive her. But it doesn't matter; it is just a small game outside the arena. The true victory or defeat still depends on one's own strength."

"I actually hope she doesn't disappoint me too much. In the Three-Star Courtyard of the Holy Profound Star Academy, Du Ze Duze Honglian was long ago suppressed by me until she had no temper left, able only to occasionally do small things to highlight her existence; it's utterly meaningless."

Seeing Jiang Jiang Qinge's somewhat bored expression, Li Luo couldn't help but raise his thumb; this was the flavor he had always pursued; invincibility is how much loneliness.

"For this Ticket Match, Sister Jiang Qinge, what do you think our chances of winning are?" Li Luo asked with a smile.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's slender jade finger tapped a drop of tea water, then traced it across the table; the Light Phase Power fell into it, forming faint glowing characters.

"There are seven matches in the Ticket Match. First, let's talk about the Four-Star Courtyard side; the representatives are already confirmed: Gong Gong Shenjun and the Eldest Princess. These two are considered the strongest among the current Seven-Star Pillars. Do you think they will achieve two victories?" she asked rhetorically.

Li Luo hesitated for a moment and said, "It should be possible."

He had never seen Gong Gong Shenjun fight, but he had roughly seen the Eldest Princess's strength, which was quite formidable, and Gong Gong Shenjun was slightly stronger than the Eldest Princess; with these two taking action, the two Four-Star Courtyard representatives from the Blue Abyss Holy Academy probably wouldn't be able to stop them, right?

Jiang Jiang Qinge shook her head and said, "Then you are underestimating the representative from the Blue Abyss Holy Academy named Zhongnan."

"I have studied Zhongnan's battle records, you know? Since he entered the Blue Abyss Holy Academy, he has undergone countless great battles, yet has never suffered a single defeat."

Hearing this, Li Luo was immediately startled and said, "Never a single defeat, so strong?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled and said, "Because most of his battles end in a draw. To date, no one among the opponents of equal level he has encountered has been able to break through his defense; in the end, they are all exhausted until their Phase Power is depleted. Even Wang Chao, one of the Seven-Star Pillars in our Holy Profound Star Academy, is not as strong as him in defense."

Li Luo's expression inevitably became Solemn; the senior brother named Wang Chao among the Seven-Star Pillars, known as the strongest defense in the Holy Profound Star Academy, was actually not as good as that Zhongnan?

"If Gong Gong Shenjun meets Zhongnan, there is a forty percent probability of being dragged into a draw; if the Eldest Princess meets him, the probability of a draw might be sixty percent. So for the two matches in the Four-Star Courtyard, the best result would be one victory and one draw," Jiang Jiang Qinge analyzed.

"As for the two matches on our Three-Star Courtyard side, I estimate a ninety percent probability of winning one. Du Ze Duze Honglian is a bit unstable, but fortunately, aside from Zhao Zhao Huiyin, there is no one too powerful in the Blue Abyss Holy Academy's Three-Star Courtyard, so Du Ze Duze Honglian's situation can only be described as fifty-fifty."

"The Two-Star Courtyard on both sides is a contest of who is worse; it depends on who is worse; there isn't much to watch."

"As for the One-Star Courtyard side..."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's voice paused, her gaze turned to Li Luo, and she smiled, "What do you think?"

Li Luo said solemnly, "From the perspective of looks, the Holy Profound Star Academy's One-Star Courtyard will crush them to victory."

Jiang Jiang Qinge gave him an annoyed look; is looking good something to be proud of? If I were like you, I would just declare myself invincible to the world.

Li Luo smiled, stopped joking, thought seriously for a moment, and said, "Lu Cang and Lu Zang from the Blue Abyss Holy Academy, although I haven't interacted with them, I always have a vague, strange feeling, so I truly dare not be blindly confident; I can only do my best when the time comes."

Regarding his caution, Jiang Jiang Qinge showed agreement and said, "I am relieved you think this way. This world is vast and full of wonders; you possess dual Phases, but there might be other strange people. Those Lu Cang and Lu Zang are slightly eerie; it is possible they are the Blue Abyss Holy Academy's true trump cards."

"Trump cards for the One-Star Courtyard, going to such lengths?" Li Luo said in astonishment.

"Precisely because others find it hard to guess, it might become a surprise move. You must know that for the Holy Grail War, the Blue Abyss Holy Academy has been preparing for many years; their strength and foundation are already inferior to ours in the Holy Profound Star Academy; if they don't have some surprise moves, it will be quite difficult to win," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Li Luo nodded slightly and said, "I will be careful."

Afterwards, the two chatted casually again; unknowingly, the sky grew dark, and seeing this, Jiang Jiang Qinge stood up and left.

Li Luo escorted her to the front of the dormitory building; at this moment, moonlight poured down, shining on the girl with a slender figure before him; her exquisite and beautiful face reflected points of light; under the faint moonlight, she seemed like a blooming night lotus.

Li Luo stared for a moment, slightly dazed.

Being looked at like this, Jiang Jiang Qinge was not annoyed; instead, she smiled and said, "Am I pretty? How does it compare to Zhao Zhao Huiyin?"

"If I say there is a difference between cloud and mud, that is indeed a bit exaggerated, but with Sister Jiang Qinge you here, her little beauty trap will probably never be effective," Li Luo sighed and said.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's red lips curled slightly and she said, "You certainly know how to talk."

Then she waved her hand and was about to leave.

However, Li Luo suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist; Jiang Jiang Qinge was stunned, did not struggle, but only tilted her head slightly, looking at him with some confusion.

"Is there anything else?"

Li Luo coughed lightly and said, "I have become the representative candidate for the One-Star Courtyard."

"I know that," Jiang Jiang Qinge said, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"I defeated Qin Qin Zhulu two days ago," Li Luo added.

"I heard," Jiang Jiang Qinge said, her gaze flashing slightly as she nodded.

Li Luo glared at Jiang Jiang Qinge and said, "So now I am the veritable number one person in the Holy Profound Star Academy's One-Star Courtyard. Jiang Jiang Qinge, do you still remember the promise you gave me before?"

"You said if I could become the number one person in the Holy Profound Star Academy, you would give me a reward!"

"Now I have done it; where is your reward?!"

Jiang Jiang Qinge froze, her gaze flickering.

Li Luo looked at the stunned Jiang Jiang Qinge, then sighed as if somewhat disappointed and said, "Forget it; I knew you were just saying it for fun. It's fine, you can go."

Hearing Li Luo's words filled with grievance, Jiang Jiang Qinge also gave him an annoyed white look and said, "I really haven't thought of it yet; then what reward do you want?"

Li Luo rubbed his chin, his gaze scanning Jiang Jiang Qinge's Bai Xi, jade-like face, putting on a dissolute appearance.

Jiang Jiang Qinge did not mind his gaze; instead, she let him look; the relationship between the two was too profound; she had never had any resistance towards Li Luo from beginning to end, so even if Li Luo truly wanted to make some very intimate moves, she would accept them.

However, facing her calm demeanor, Li Luo sighed instead, and the dissolute expression on his face faded.

"What's wrong now?" Jiang Jiang Qinge asked in confusion.

Li Luo said helplessly, "Sister Jiang Qinge, you making it this easy gives me no sense of achievement."

Jiang Jiang Qinge said, "Then do I have to resist? I'm just worried that if I resist even a little, I might accidentally seriously injure you."

Li Luo felt as if a knife had been stabbed into his heart; he rubbed his chest, let out a bitter laugh, and said, "Sister Jiang Jiang Qinge, I know our feelings after so many years are extremely complex, but you should understand what I want, including my constant effort to dissolve this engagement."

Jiang Jiang Qinge gazed at Li Luo's face; she had always known Li Luo's purpose. The so-called dissolution of the engagement was not truly about ending it, but rather about changing its meaning.

Looking back on nearly a year, Li Luo had indeed been growing at an astonishing rate; that youth with an empty dantian from the Tianchu Commandery had, without anyone noticing, become the most outstanding person of the younger generation in the Great Xia Kingdom.

He had always been striving, striving to catch up with her steps; at the very least, no one could now question his potential, and no one, upon hearing of their engagement, would have the first reaction of the word "unworthy."

"Sister Jiang Jiang Qinge, actually, I don't need any reward; I just hope that while I am striving to overturn the complex emotions between us, you can also slightly break free from the shackles of our feelings over so many years, for instance, by treating me as an ordinary suitor who has feelings for you," Li Luo said.

"Think about it: if someone who had feelings for you showed that kind of expression just now, what would your reaction be?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Then he would already be dead."

Li Luo was stunned, then forced a dry laugh: "That's hardly necessary."

Jiang Jiang Qinge let out a light laugh and said softly, "Li Luo, I know what you want to say. Your improvement over this nearly year-long period has amazed even me. I said before that you would not be inferior to anyone, including me."

"However, treating you as an ordinary suitor is truly something I cannot do."

Before Li Luo could grow angry, she said leisurely, "No matter what you do, given our feelings, if you were to act as a suitor, you would certainly be the one with the greatest opportunity and strength."

At the same time, she added in her heart: "And the only one."

Li Luo's heart soared with joy, yet he also let out a sigh of sorrow; truly, he had been completely grasped and controlled.

Under the moonlight before the small pavilion, ripples flowed within Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes; she gazed at Li Luo and said, "Li Luo, actually, what you said is very true. Our feelings are too complex and deep, so it is indeed difficult for me to step out of these shackles, but I will try my best..."

"And I can also give you a very clear promise."

"What?" Li Luo's heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled slightly; her smile under the moonlight was so stunning it made one gasp for breath.

"The day your strength surpasses mine, we will dissolve that engagement."

(It is almost Chinese New Year recently, there are many trivial matters, my stored drafts are exhausted, one update today...)