CHAPTER 31 — "SIX MONTHS LATER: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM"
The morning sun stretched across the Azure Dragon Academy training grounds, illuminating two figures standing in the middle of the cracked stone arena.
Long Hao and Ling Yifan.
Both shirtless.Both bruised.Both panting.Both refusing to take a single step back.
Their auras clashed like rising storms.
Ling Yifan spun his spear with terrifying speed.
Long Hao clenched his fists, Void energy flickering faintly around him.
And then—
BOOOOOOOM—!!!
They collided.
Fist met spear.Shockwaves tore open pieces of the ground.The sky rippled as if punched.Students watching from afar hid behind boulders.
Senior #1:"They're doing this again?!"
Senior #2:"They've been fighting EVERY MORNING for six months!"
Senior #3:"At this point, I think they're married."
Student:"DON'T JOKE LIKE THAT!"
Ling Yifan thrust his spear—
Long Hao countered with a rising punch—
Both attacks met at the center—
And then—
WHAM!!!
Both of them were sent flying backward and crashed onto the ground.
Silence.
Dust settled.
A few birds chirped.
Both of them stared at the sky.
Then—
Long Hao raised a hand."Three victories."
Ling Yifan answered without hesitation."Three losses."
Long Hao continued, "Three losses."
Ling Yifan matched instantly,"Three victories."
And then—
Both of them said IN PERFECT SYNC:
"…Two thousand four hundred thirty-two draws."
The ground shook from the sheer absurdity.
Senior #1 fell over."SIX MONTHS!! THEY'VE FOUGHT EVERY DAY FOR SIX MONTHS?!"
Senior #2 slammed his head into a tree."They're TOO PERFECTLY MATCHED!"
Senior #3 cried."I TRAIN WITH MY ROOMMATE AND WE JUST GET BRUISED!"
Illusion petals drifted into the training ground.
Bai Qianlan stepped out, arms crossed, expression unamused.
"You two…"
Her voice echoed coolly.
"It has been six months. And you are STILL doing this?"
Long Hao wiped blood from his lip.
Ling Yifan stood up and spun his spear calmly.
"Yes," both said at the same time.
Bai Qianlan sighed deeply."You idiots."
A cold breeze swept over the arena—Frost glittered—Pink bunny hairpin in place—Ouyang Xue'er walked in with her hands on her hips.
"Well, at least they're training for the Freshman Championship!" she said proudly.
She looked at Long Hao.
"And you—"
Long Hao blinked.
"You better win."
Ling Yifan stepped in front."He won't win. I will."
Ouyang glared."Oh, shut up."
Bai Qianlan smirked."Fight all you want. The competition will decide."
Chen Wulian arrived late, sprinting into the field while eating a bun.
"HEY!! Why did you all start without me?!"
The five prodigies walked through the academy toward the grand hall.Everywhere they went, students stared.
"Those five… monsters…""Chen Wulian grew AGAIN?!""Ouyang Xue'er looks so cute— wait why is she glaring at me?!""That illusion girl scares me.""Long Hao… he scares my bones."
At the giant hall gates, more seniors gathered.
Vice-Dean Rui Jin stood at the top of the stairs.
He smirked.
"Six months of training… good. You all look terrifying."
Chen Wulian:"Haha! Thank you vice-ol—"
Rui Jin glared.
Chen froze."…Thank you, Sir Almighty Vice-Dean."
"Better."
Ouyang whispered to Long Hao:"Don't laugh."
"I'm not."
"You ARE."
"I'm not."
"You ARE!!"
Bai Qianlan flicked a snow petal at both their foreheads.
"Children."
Vice-Dean Rui Jin raised his hand, and silence fell across the courtyard.
"Listen well!"
His voice echoed.
"THE FRESHMAN GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS NEXT WEEK!"
The crowd erupted.
"It's finally happening!""All 18 academies—!""Azure Dragon must win this time!"
The vice-dean continued:
"This week, participants from the 18 academies will arrive and stay in our dormitory wing."
Bai Qianlan nodded.
Ouyang Xue'er clapped.
Chen Wulian flexed.
Ling Yifan sharpened his spear.
Long Hao… blinked.
"And," Rui Jin added, "you will notice the strongest ones immediately."
Long Hao glanced toward the giant academy windows.
Carriages arrived.Flying spirit beasts descended.Groups of elite students stepped out—All wearing different academy robes.
He sensed strong qi—
Epic tier…Mystic tier…A few he couldn't feel clearly.
Then—
A particular carriage door opened.
A slim girl stepped out.
Long flowing black hair.Cold, elegant face.A familiar Murong family crest on her robe.
And a familiar face too
Murong Yuer.
His ex-fiancée.
She stepped forward proudly, surrounded by guards.
She looked stronger.More mature.And more beautiful than he remembered.
Ouyang Xue'er instantly noticed Long Hao's frozen expression.
She stepped in front of him.
"…Who's that?"Her voice was sharp.
Long Hao didn't answer immediately.
Bai Qianlan narrowed her eyes too.
Ling Yifan frowned.
Chen Wulian munched his bun and whispered,"Oooh this looks messy."
Murong Xiuying looked up toward the hall gates—
Her eyes landed directly on Long Hao.
Recognition happened.
Shock.
Guilt.
Anger.
Curiosity.
And something else.
Ouyang Xue'er's voice got sharper:
"Long Hao.Who.Is.She?"
Long Hao inhaled.
"…My ex-fiancée."
The entire group froze.
The group choked.
Bai Qianlan's illusion petals froze in the air.
Ling Yifan dropped his spear for the first time.
Chen Wulian swallowed his bun whole.
Ouyang Xue'er flared with cold aura.
"EX— WHAT?!"
Murong Yuer stared right back, expression unreadable.
The air shook.
[CHAPTER ENDS]