novelHire Chapter 843: What Was Bound to Come, Has Come
Chapter 843: What Was Bound to Come, Has Come
...The Battle Power within her body was in disarray, waves of dull pain throbbed in her chest...
But none of that compared to the stifling humiliation in her heart.
She had prepared for so long, even deliberately hiding her Third Battle Technique, hoping to stun everyone at this exchange tournament with a single brilliant move. Yet, Li Qingran had crushed her with a single technique, grinding all her pride into the dust.
The medical room was filled with a faint aroma of medicinal herbs.
Su Luyao had just sat down when she heard a greasy voice sound from behind the door: "Isn't this my little beauty Su Luyao? Why do you look so heartbroken?"
She turned her head to look and immediately frowned.
The newcomer was short and stout, with a round, chubby head, a face full of coarse flesh, and a pair of small, lecherous eyes fixed on her.
It was none other than Xiahou Yuan, the direct descendant of the Xiahou Family.
The Xiahou Family's bloodline Battle Soul, Hellfire, possessed immense power, and the family's strength was comparable to the Xiao Family's.
But the appearance of this Young Master Xiahou was truly nothing to write home about.
Su Luyao usually avoided him like the plague. Even though he had shown her favor multiple times, she had never taken it to heart.
Xiahou Yuan waddled his obese frame over to her. His small eyes swept over her pale face and the blood at the corner of her mouth, revealing a sleazy smile. "I heard all about it. You were defeated by that Li Qingran with a single move? In my opinion, there must be something wrong with that Li Qingran!
How could a 39th-level Battle Venerable be so powerful with just a First Battle Technique?
She probably used some underhanded method and even bribed Vice Dean Feng Wuyu!"
His words struck a chord deep within Su Luyao. She jerked her head up, a flicker of hope flashing in her eyes. "Young Master Xiahou also thinks she's suspicious?
But I have no proof, and the Vice Dean keeps shielding her everywhere..."
"Proof? That's simple!" Xiahou Yuan patted his chest, his fat jiggling along. "As long as you follow me, become my woman, forget about finding proof, even expelling that Li Qingran from the Battle Soul Academy, or crippling her, would be a piece of cake!
What's Feng Wuyu? My Xiahou Family has more Battle Saints than you can count on one hand. Why would we fear a mere Vice Dean?"
Looking at Xiahou Yuan's ugly appearance, Su Luyao's face turned pale, and she instinctively wanted to refuse.
No matter how much she wanted revenge, she didn't want to subject herself to such an ugly, sleazy man.
But the moment she thought of Li Qingran's aloof, peerlessly beautiful face, thought of how she was adored by the masses, thought of her own humiliation on the arena just moments ago, jealousy and hatred instantly overwhelmed her reason.
"As long as I can make Li Qingran pay the price, make her lose everything, I'm willing to do anything!" Su Luyao gritted her teeth, a trace of determination flashing in the depths of her eyes.
Hearing this, the lust in Xiahou Yuan's small eyes almost overflowed. He let out a sleazy chuckle and waved his hand towards the door. "All of you, get out. Close the door. No one is to come in without my order!"
The several Xiahou Family guards outside the door hurriedly complied, respectfully retreating and closing the medical room door on their way out.
The medical room was instantly left with only the two of them. Xiahou Yuan stepped closer step by step, his greasy aura assaulting her senses. Su Luyao instinctively retreated, her body trembling uncontrollably.
A sense of humiliation stabbed at her heart like needles, but the thought of Li Qingran forced her to calm down again.
"Don't worry. Follow me, I promise you'll be satisfied, and I promise that little bitch Li Qingran will pay the price!" Xiahou Yuan stretched out a chubby hand and grabbed Su Luyao's wrist with such force she couldn't break free.
"What do you want to do?" Su Luyao's eyes were full of vigilance.
"Of course... to have a bit of fun."
Xiahou Yuan chuckled, his small eyes roaming over Su Luyao's body.
"No... You haven't done anything yet, and you want to have your way? Dream on!"
Hearing this, Xiahou Yuan was displeased. "Then if you don't let me do anything, what if you turn your back on me after I help you? How about we just forget it then."
He made as if to leave. Su Luyao gritted her teeth and pulled him back.
After several moments of hesitation, Su Luyao closed her eyes, two clear trails of tears sliding down.
"You... you can kiss me. Is that acceptable?"
Xiahou Yuan's eyes lit up. "Deal!"
...
On the other side, on the arena, Feng Wuyu's voice once again resounded throughout the venue: "Li Qingran versus Zhao Hao. Li Qingran wins!"
With this announcement, thunderous cheers erupted from the spectator stands.
Li Qingran, dressed in plain white robes and holding the Su Xian Sword, stood in the center of the arena, her expression still aloof and cold.
This was already the final match of her preliminary round.
In all five matches, without exception, she had only used her First Battle Technique, "Long Wind Breaks Waves."
Every single match ended with her subduing the opponent in one move, giving them no chance to resist.
From the initial Su Luyao, to the later genius from Thunder Academy, Zhao Hao...
Regardless of whether the opponent specialized in the Agile-Attack System, the Strong-Attack System, or the Control System, before that Sword Qi of hers, imbued with the power of a three-thousand-year World Ring and the Sword Intent of the Green Lotus Sword Manual, they were all utterly defenseless.
Feng Wuyu watched Li Qingran's figure, a trace of deep contemplation in his eyes.
After these five matches, he became increasingly certain that Li Qingran's first World Ring was absolutely not simple.
That three-thousand-year age, paired with such a fierce and sharp Battle Technique, was practically unheard of.
But Li Qingran's Battle Soul and Battle Power were completely normal, showing no signs of any rule violations...
It seemed necessary to have a private talk with Li Qingran and her mentor after the competition ended.
...
"Li Qingran, five matches, five victories, becomes the first arena master of the academy's preliminary round!"
After Feng Wuyu finished the announcement, Li Qingran's matches for the day were over.
Tomorrow, she would serve as the arena master and accept challenges from other Soul Masters from the losers' bracket.
If she achieved complete victory in all ten arena defense matches, then Li Qingran would smoothly advance to the finals. And advancing to the finals basically guaranteed her qualification as a team member.
It was merely a matter of determining the ranking of strength.
Li Qingran gave a slight nod towards her surroundings. Her cool gaze seemed somewhat vacant, as if she were daydreaming. In reality, her mind was completely filled with thoughts of Chen Huaian.
She had heard that Su Luyao's Third Battle Technique was specifically designed to counter her.
If not for her husband's help, she probably would have only managed a narrow victory today...
But then, how should she explain the World Ring her husband gave her?
Li Qingran bit her red lips, somewhat troubled.
"Li Qingran, you have no more matches today."
Feng Wuyu landed beside Li Qingran and said softly, "Call your mentor and come to my office."
Sigh—!
Li Qingran sighed inwardly.
What was bound to come, has come. In the end, could she not avoid it...
...