Chapter 59 Shrek vs. Royal Battle
With mixed feelings, everyone got up and left.
As Dai Mubai passed by Ye Liuyun, he stopped in his tracks.
His evil eyes flashed with barely suppressed rage and malice.
Ye Liuyun's remarks just now made him, the prince, lose face in front of everyone, and completely enraged Zhu Zhuqing.
He couldn't hold this grudge until tomorrow.
"Ye Liuyun."
Dai Mubai lowered his voice and said fiercely in a tone that only the two of them could hear:
"You better pray you don't lose too badly tonight."
"Also, don't think that you can change anything by pretending to be a saint in front of Zhu Qing."
"If she doesn't marry me, the Star Luo Empire will not let her go."
After saying that, he snorted coldly, deliberately bumped Ye Liuyun's shoulder hard with his own, and then strode away.
Ye Liuyun remained completely still, as if he had been blown by a gentle breeze.
He patted non-existent dust off his shoulders without even lifting his eyelids.
...
The crowd dispersed, and the playground returned to tranquility.
Ye Liuyun did not return to the dormitory, but instead walked alone to the woods on the edge of the college.
It was quiet there, perfect for him to take a short rest before the game.
Just as he reached the edge of the woods.
A light, hesitant footstep came from behind.
Ye Liuyun stopped in his tracks, without turning around:
"Is there anything else?"
Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows behind the tree.
She was still dressed in a black bodysuit that accentuated her stunning curves, but now her cool face held a complex expression.
She watched Ye Liuyun's retreating figure, remained silent for a moment, and then asked in a low voice:
"Why?"
Ye Liuyun turned around, leaned against the tree trunk, and remained calm:
"Why what?"
Why are you speaking up for me?
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes:
"In that situation just now, you could have remained silent like everyone else, or at least said a few words in agreement. Instead, you offended Dai Mubai, the Master, and even the entire team for someone like me who was destined to be isolated…"
Is it worth it?
She was a sensitive person.
She could sense that the Grandmaster's sudden change of plans, sending Ye Liuyun to replace Tang San to fight the strongest Royal Fighting Team at this critical juncture, was clearly a targeted move.
This was a trap.
A trap set for speaking up for her.
"And tonight's match..."
Zhu Zhuqing reminded him with some concern.
"The Royal Fighting Team is very strong, and our chances of winning were not high to begin with. It's also your first time playing a team battle, and the others may not be able to cooperate. The master obviously wants to see you make a fool of yourself, and then put all the blame for losing the game on you."
Listening to Zhu Zhuqing's heartfelt concerns.
Ye Liuyun's expression remained unchanged; he showed neither gratitude for the beautiful woman's concern nor anger at the conspiracy.
He simply raised his eyelids, his gaze passing over Zhu Zhuqing's head, and looking at the leaves rustling in the wind in the distance.
You're overthinking it.
Ye Liuyun's voice was cold and devoid of any emotional fluctuation:
"I'm speaking up for you, not for your sake, nor to offend anyone."
"As for the master's targeting, Dai Mubai's threats..."
Ye Liuyun withdrew his gaze and glanced indifferently at Zhu Zhuqing:
"None of that matters to me. I don't take them seriously at all, so I never argue with them."
"I'm just doing what I believe is right."
"I couldn't stand it, so I spoke up. I wanted to go on stage, so I did."
That's all.
After speaking, Ye Liuyun straightened up and walked straight past Zhu Zhuqing.
"During the game, just mind your own business."
"My affairs are none of your business."
Zhu Zhuqing stood there, watching the figure gradually disappear into the shadows.
The wind blew her long hair.
She didn't feel disappointed at being neglected; instead, she was overwhelmed with a strong sense of awe at that moment.
Is this what it means to completely disregard others and only do what you think is right?
This is a world full of exchanges of interests, interpersonal relationships, and scheming.
Ye Liuyun's indifference towards others only made him seem so pure, so...
It's reassuring.
As night falls, Soto City does not sleep; instead, it enters its most frenzied time of day.
The entire city seemed to be converging towards the same center—the Soto Arena.
Tonight's epic battle would surely be recorded in history.
Because what was about to happen on the main battle stage was a showdown between two teams that maintained an undefeated record and were incredibly popular.
One team was the "Royal Fighting Team," composed entirely of top-tier noble geniuses from the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The other team was the dark horse "Shrek Seven Monsters Team", which emerged out of nowhere and was known for its mysterious masks and bizarre teamwork.
Before even stepping onto the field, a tremendous wave of sound rushed towards them like a tsunami.
That wasn't the shouts of a few thousand people, but the hysterical roars of tens of thousands of spectators fueled by alcohol, gambling, and adrenaline.
"Royal Battle! Royal Battle! Invincible!!"
"Shrek! Tear them apart!!"
The betting odds on the periphery had gone crazy.
The betting amount was astronomical, with countless people waving their gold soul coins and betting their entire fortunes on the team they favored.
The air was thick with the smells of sweat, cheap beer, and the stench of money, creating a unique, exhilarating atmosphere.
Inside the Shrek team's rest area.
The atmosphere, however, was the complete opposite of the frenzy outside; it was oppressive and suffocating.
"Remember your position, remember your mission."
Yu Xiaogang was giving his final pre-match pep talk, but he wasn't looking at Ye Liuyun, who was about to take the stage; instead, he was staring at Dai Mubai and the others.
"Although the commander has changed, you cannot lose your basic tactical skills. I don't want to see the whole team fall apart because of one person's recklessness."
Dai Mubai snorted coldly, put on the mask symbolizing the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, and glanced at Ye Liuyun with an unfriendly look.
Tang San sat on the bench, his expression calm, seemingly mindful of the bigger picture, but deep in his eyes lay an anticipation for the show to begin.
Ye Liuyun stood quietly in the corner, wearing that handsome cyan mask.
The clamor from the outside world and the internal targeting seemed to have nothing to do with him.
He was simply adjusting his breathing, getting his body into optimal condition.
"Time's up, enter!"
...
On the massive central arena, all the dazzling soul-guided spotlights instantly lit up, illuminating the entire arena as if it were daytime.
A passionate host in a tuxedo slowly rose from a platform and roared in a voice amplified by soul power:
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Soto Arena for tonight's ultimate battle!"
"Whoa whoa whoa—!!"
The cheers from the crowd seemed to lift the dome off the sky.
"Tonight, we are fortunate to witness the clash of two legendary teams! Neither of them has ever been defeated, but tonight, only one team is destined to continue their undefeated streak!"
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[end of the chapter]