CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 107: BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT (PART 2)

Wendao and Yuan Kai went to welcome the other two academies. Harssas’ teachers stood together with those from Tianyi Academy.

Although everyone was from different camps, they were all part of the Military Academy Alliance, with many being former comrades and alumni. With the principals gone, they felt free to gather in small groups to joke around and catch up on recent events.

Ye Qingting led his team towards the Tianyi team.

"Cousin!"

Chu Yunyi nodded with a smile, but the rest of his team wore smiles on their faces without any genuine friendliness in their eyes, and even a hint of disdain.

Chu Yunyi was tall and handsome. With Li Xing’s two lifetimes of encounters with many handsome men, she had to admit that his appearance, demeanor, and grace were the best she had ever seen.

Chu Yunyi said, "To all the juniors from Harssas, I represent the entire Tianyi team in welcoming you to our academy."

Standing alongside Chu Yunyi, Jiang Yuesheng nodded in agreement, "Dear juniors, during the competition, consider Tianyi Academy as your home. We will provide the best services to make you feel our sincerity. If you have any needs, feel free to bring them up, and we will surely accommodate."

Cui Tianxiao couldn’t stand Jiang Yuesheng’s self-important demeanor, rolled his eyes, and sarcastically remarked, "Tianyi Academy must be truly wealthy. Since that’s the case, can I ask for the moon in the sky? Please, even if it’s just politeness, don’t exaggerate too much, or you’ll end up slapping yourself in the face."

Jiang Yuesheng’s face immediately turned grim, as he replied coldly, "Cui Tianxiao, I was just trying to be a courteous host. There’s no need for your sharp words."

Ye Qingting pulled back the combative Cui Tianxiao and said to Chu Yunyi, "Cousin, as soon as we arrived at the Teleportation Port, reporters asked if you would go easy on us because of our family ties. I’d also like to know the answer to that."

Chu Yunyi laughed, his handsome face lighting up with the smile, like the melting of ice and the rise of a spring breeze, making it hard to look away.

"Before and after the competition, you are my cousin. During the competition, you have only one identity, and that is as an opponent. I never give opponents any chance, so there’s no question of going easy."

Ye Qingting said, "Hearing that, I’m relieved, cousin. Everyone from Tianyi team, let me introduce my team members. Everyone already knows Ah Xiao, so I won’t say much more. This is Qi Ming, our team’s talisman master."

Chu Yunyi was the second most skilled talisman master after Qi Lang, and Qi Ming had long admired him. Now, meeting the real person, he was so excited he didn’t know where to put his hands.

"Hello, I... I’m Qi, Qi, Qi Ming."

Lin Caier chuckled openly, not hiding her mockery and disdain for Qi Ming, whose face turned as red as if it could bleed.

Chu Yun took a step forward to shake Qi Ming’s hand and gently said:

"The Qi Family is renowned on the Qianyuan Continent for their talisman masters. Master Qi Lang is a senior I greatly respect. Although Master Qi Lang has been missing for a long time, the Elder Council has never given up searching for him."

"The Baili Ancestor often mentions the Qi Family, saying they’ve produced a new Heavenly Armor-level Golden Elemental Spirit talent, with potential in talisman skills not inferior to Master Qi Lang’s in his day. I reckon Baili Ancestor was referring to you, Qi Ming."

"Competing alongside such an outstanding talisman master as Qi Ming is my honor. I hope you can guide me in the competition, allowing me to witness the elegance of the Qi Family’s descendants."

Qi Ming nodded excitedly, "I, I am also honored to have Chu as an opponent. I will do my best, see you on the field!"

After introducing Qi Ming, Ye Qingting pulled over Li Xing and said:

"This is Li Xing, our team’s martial master and healing master." Having said that, Ye Qingting winked and lowered his voice:

"As fellow childhood friends, I’ll share a secret: Li Xing is not only a martial master and healer, she also has considerable skill in talismans. She hasn’t obtained a talisman master qualification yet, so she can’t be publicly called a three-skill combined talent. If any of you underestimate her and suffer a loss in the competition, don’t blame me for not warning you!"

Before competitions, all teams thoroughly research other participants’ information, so what Ye Qingting said wasn’t really a leak; it was purely to boost Li Xing’s esteem.

Li Xing shyly greeted, "Hello everyone, I’m Li Xing."

Chu Yunyi was somewhat dumbfounded.

Because of his relationship with Cui Tianxiao and Ye Qingting, his ears were constantly filled with Li Xing’s name.

In his imagination, the woman who could conquer two proud and sharp-tongued younger brothers must be a queen-like figure with a domineering presence, red lips, and a black dress, with a personality tinged with a bit of sadism.

But the girl before him was barefaced yet still charming, and her eyes were as clear as a spring, endearing, without any hint of sadistic tendencies!

The stark contrast between reality and imagination momentarily threw Chu Yunyi off balance, as he went into a daze before recovering his composure.

For Chu Yunyi, his temporary distraction was a minor incident, but in Lin Caier’s eyes, it held great significance.

Since childhood, Lin Caier had secretly harbored feelings for Chu Yunyi, and she unilaterally considered him within her domain, absolutely allowing no other woman to have any presumptuous thoughts about her "future boyfriend."

Lin Caier would find a way to remove any woman who tried to get close to Chu Yunyi. As a result, all these years, there was no other girl around Chu Yunyi except for Lin Caier.

Chu Yunyi enjoyed the peace and let her be. His indulgence only fueled Lin Caier’s possessiveness, driving her further down a path of unhealthy zeal.

Sometimes, women pay more attention to the looks of other women than men. Li Xing’s appearance immediately made Lin Caier feel a sense of urgency.

Chu Yunyi’s reaction upon meeting Li Xing only added fuel to Lin Caier’s fire. If she could hold back, she wouldn’t be the most domineering lady in Tianyi City.

"Three-skill combined? Even a genius like Brother Yun is only considered a two-skill combined. How dare you brag with your lower-city civilian background! Don’t assume knowing a thing or two gets you in; if that were the case, everyone in Tianyi team would be three-skill combined."

"Take myself, for instance. I’m a healing master who’s studied martial arts. Having been around Brother Yun for so long, I’ve picked up some talisman skills by observation. By your logic, I also qualify as a Martial Talisman Healing comprehensive talent. Haha, Brother Yun, you see, I didn’t know I was this exceptional. Aren’t you happy for me?"

Facing Lin Caier’s sarcasm, Li Xing didn’t mind in the least, but Cui Tianxiao was furious:

"Bah! What level are you on compared to our Xing! Do you believe I won’t use my Flame Thunder Invincible Kick to stamp a size forty-two limited edition blush on your face?"

From a young age, Cui Tianxiao had never thought much of this Lin Caier. Like a loyal dog, she constantly hovered around Chu Yunyi, yapping "Brother Yun" this and that, driving everyone mad. Now she dared to mock Li Xing—she was certainly testing her limits!