Liang Kui had ultimately lost, as expected.
Many Astral Sage College students wiped cold sweat from their brows. “All as we predicted,” they might say, putting on brave smiles, but d.a.m.n did Liang Kui not give them a good run for their money. For a moment, they had been legitimately worried that the Astral Sage College would end the Four Star Hall battles behind.
Fortunately, Gong Shenjun had come through as the strongest student of the Astral Sage College. A dependable fighter.
Now was the time for cheering, and the Astral Sage College students celebrated their first win in the ticket match.
Li Luo was thinking about Gong Shenjun too. This senior had not just won, he had won it with pizazz. The boost to his popularity and reputation would be amazing.
In comparison, the First Princess’ match had looked almost dull. Although it was a known fact that Zhong Nan was harder to fight, the result sometimes counted for more than the process.
And the result was a draw for the First Princess, but a win for Gong Shenjun.
It was as simple as that.
No one would dare to say that the First Princess was weak, but not many would put her on the same level as Gong Shenjun either.
“Senior Gong is really strong.”
Even Bai Mengmeng was full of admiration for him. “Next will be Senior Jiang, right? I’m really excited about it—I haven’t seen senior Jiang fight anyone for real before.”
“Oh, I’ve seen her fight plenty of times.” Li Luo winced. “But I’m always on the receiving end of the fists.”
She giggled. So her leader trained frequently with Senior Jiang. “Leader, what do you think of the Three Star Hall lottery?” Xin Fu asked.
Li Luo thought it over. “The Four Star Hall draw favors the Blue Abyss Sage College. If their s.h.i.+eld had faced Gong Shenjun, it’s likely they would have lost. And then if the First Princess took down the Spear, then we’d have two wins. That’s, like, half the ticket secured, you know.
“For the Three Star Hall draw, I think the most favorable outcome for us is for Jiang Qing’e to face Zhao Huiyin, and Duze Honglian would take Yan Tai. Then we’d have some good odds for both fights. But if Jiang Qing’e draws against Yan Tai, and Duze Honglian faces Zhao Huiyin… probably one loss, one win.”
Although Li Luo had not seen Zhao Huiyin in action before, their little exchange previously had given him all the character reference he would need. Such a shrewd girl could only be eliminated by Jiang Qing’e. Duze Honglian would be swallowed whole.
Bai Mengmeng nodded. “I want to see Senior Jiang fight Zhao Huiyin too. It will be a thrilling fight.”
Li Luo agreed. He wanted to see the little fox being eaten by the plump swan too. Not only was the metaphor hilarious, it would have been an epic clash of wills.
“Leader, you’re the last match. Do you think it’ll even reach you?” Xin Fu suddenly pointed out.
“The One Star Hall’s put at the back precisely because we’re the least important tier,” Li Luo said with a hint of irritation. “The odds that things will be decided one way or the other before it reaches me, are high, yes. Although your observation makes my knuckles itch to make friends with your front teeth, it is very true indeed.”
“That’s truly a pity, Leader.” Xin Fu sighed dramatically. “I so wanted to watch you take the crowd by storm.”
Li Luo rolled his eyes. “As if I’d believe you, black-hearted scorpion!”
At the Blue Abyss Sage College contingent, a girl dressed in arresting red stood up from her seat. “One draw and one loss.” Zhao Huiyin smiled. “Well, that’s to be expected. Not the worst case.”
“Senior Zhao, we’re counting on the Three Star Hall representatives now,” Lu Cāng said with a bright smile.
Zhao Huiyin laughed. “Pray that I meet Duze Honglian, then. I’ll be in deep trouble against Jiang Qing’e.”
“I’m sure you stand a chance even against Jiang Qing’e,” Lu Cāng said encouragingly.
Zhao Huiyin pouted. “She’s a ninth-grade light resonance, for heaven’s sake! A real ninth-grade! Not some cheated ninth-grade!” A gaunt youth walked up to her side and gave them a smile. This was the other Three Star Hall representative, Yan Tai.
The two headed down to the lot-drawing platform together.
Jiang Qing’e and Duze Honglian were already waiting there.
“Hey, Jiang Qing’e, how are you?” Zhao Huiyin called out endearingly the moment they were in earshot.
Jiang Qing’e merely looked at her and gave a small nod.
“Jiang Qing’e, that’s really unfriendly of you. Is it because your fiancé and I got so close the other day? It’s a misunderstanding. Please don’t get angry at him. I was just trying to get directions.” Zhao Huiyin blinked innocently, her voice the perfect mixture of sincerity and apology.
Duze Honglian stared at the two of them, eyes round. What was going on? Fiancé meaning… Li Luo? Li Luo and Zhao Huiyin did things two days ago? Was that guy such a dog?
Zhao Huiyin was a great beauty herself; she had natural charm and she used it well. Maybe Li Luo’s recent popularity had gotten to his head, and she had managed to hook him? Still, Zhao Huiyin was really something for saying all that to Jiang Qing’e’s face. Taunting her?
Pretty interesting.
Duze Honglian sn.i.g.g.e.red inwardly, enjoying the drama.
However, Jiang Qing’e did not rise to the bait. “Friend Zhao Huiyin’s interest in my house’s Li Luo is not unpermitted,” she said casually. “But House Luolan has strict rules. If you want to join the house, you’ll have to start as a servant girl. If you do well, you might be able to rise to concubine.”
Zhao Huiyin flinched inwardly. Her? A servant girl for Li Luo?! She’d beat him to death with the chamberpot!
“Can I really?” she said shyly. “Li Luo’s really such a kind person, and very talented too. He’ll definitely be one of the greatest in the Xia Kingdom in the future. He told me the other day that it’s very normal for men to have a few wives and several concubines. Maybe he’ll leave a room for me if I stay at the Xia Kingdom.”
“The firewood storage room is also a room,” Jiang Qing’e pointed out. “What room you get depends on how good you are.”
Zhao Huiyin suddenly laughed. “Do you mean that we might very well be deciding who gets the main room and who gets the small room if we meet in the fight?”
“No, it would be to decide if you get the small room or firewood room,” Jiang Qing’e explained patiently.
“Friend Jiang,” Zhao Huiyin said sharply, “surely the Young Lord’s say counts more. Or is Li Luo nothing more than a puppet at House Luolan? You don’t seem to respect him at all.” Jiang Qing’e’s golden eyes surveyed her coolly for a long moment, then she stepped forward and thrust her hand into the stone box, pulling out a pellet that she pinched apart with one hand. With a deft twist of her fingers, she let the pellet sh.e.l.l fall, unrolling the paper within all with one hand. On it was written “One.”
Zhao Huiyin followed suit. She narrowed her eyes at her paper, then lifted it high up as well.
On it was written “One,” and this brought a loud roar from the crowd.
The first match of the Three Star Hall was going to be Jiang Qing’e against Zhao Huiyin.
Jiang Qing’e looked back at her calmly.
“Zhao Huiyin, ready for your beating?”