CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: SO TERRIFYING AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE

When she walked to the pavilion she had passed during the last game, Yu Xia went in and sat for a while.

Then, suppressing the tingling sensation on her scalp, she opened the manual again.

After the table of contents was the main text, which was indeed quite detailed.

The first move, "Addition and Subtraction Within Ten," was just like moving the things from the elementary school textbooks, and at a quick glance, the words seemed to outnumber the numbers.

The level corresponding to this move is 3.14.

...Even the levels have decimals. It shows how unofficial this manual is. Is it a bootleg?

Turning to the next page, the second move suddenly jumped to the multiplication table.

Habit is indeed a very scary thing; upon seeing that multiplication table, she had not yet looked at the corresponding level before her mouth subconsciously reciting through it.

Starting from one times one is one, she had recited all the way to seven times seven is forty-nine when a person appeared in her peripheral vision.

Yu Xia was still reciting, and as she looked up, she saw Yu Kuang watching her with a complicated expression.

"You’re studying so seriously. It’s clear you really want to cultivate immortality."

"...I’m not, I..."

How should she put it? Say this is just a reflex from nine years of compulsory education?

Yu Kuang didn’t need her explanation, shook his head, and left.

She remained silent for two seconds and continued reciting from seven times seven is forty-nine to nine times nine is eighty-one.

The level of this move is 7.

The increase in levels seems irregular, making it even harder to guess the levels across different subjects.

When she turned to the next page, she suddenly remembered a hidden detail in the game rules.

It didn’t say you had to start the challenge from the first move, did it?

Her eyes lit up as she began to think carefully.

Winning once earned a point, but it never said she had to start with the simpler moves; she could absolutely use high-level moves to thoroughly defeat lower-level moves!

But on further thought, it seemed not quite right.

Each move could only be used once, so if she used all her high-level moves early on, wouldn’t she just be continuously beaten later? She still couldn’t win this way.

She thought deeply but couldn’t find any way to gain an advantage, finally deciding to test the waters first.

She walked out of the pavilion, turned two corners, and happened upon a "battle."

The contenders were Ning Yunchao and Wei Yaoyao.

Former dormmates, now rivals.

This was worth watching!

Yu Xia immediately hid to the side and watched them closely.

Wei Yaoyao proactively used a move that could cut one’s throat at first sight.

"How are you!"

This move was devastating; after thinking it over, Ning Yunchao solemnly used his counter move—

"Goose, goose, goose! Bending its neck to sing to the sky!"

Wei Yaoyao gasped: "You’re so young and already mastered this move! Terrifying!"

Spectator Yu Xia: "..."

The antics of these funny youths are endless.

She always thought Wei Yaoyao was a bit odd—not expecting Ning Yunchao to be the same.

After using their big moves, the staff announced, "Ning Yunchao wins, Wei Yaoyao repeats the level."

Wei Yaoyao let out an escalating "Hm": "My ’How are you’ isn’t as powerful as goose goose goose?"

Ning Yunchao made a sword-sheathing motion: "Admit defeat, I’ve been diligently cultivating for twenty years, you’re no match."

Wei Yaoyao tearfully conceded.

Yu Xia watched attentively, waiting for Ning Yunchao to go find his next opponent, leaving Wei Yaoyao behind at the scene, she jumped out yelling.

"Where do you think you’re going, bold assassin?! Dare to battle?"

Wei Yaoyao: "...Bring it on!"

The two made sword-drawing motions.

Yu Xia let out a "Ha" and slashed downward, boldly shouting, "Three! Three! Times! Nine!"

Wei Yaoyao widened his eyes: "You’re starting out that ruthlessly? Then I must be even more ruthless. Watch out!"

"Go to school!"

The staff subdued their laughter as they declared the winner: "Wei Yaoyao wins, Yu Xia repeats the level."

She froze: "My multiplication table doesn’t beat ’go to school’? What’s your level?"

Wei Yaoyao shrugged: "Can’t tell you, Yu Xia."

She was speechless.

Originally wanting to jump in and snag a point, instead found herself unexpectedly defeated—truly embarrassing.

"Alright then, off you go, hero. We’ll meet again sometime, and then I’ll definitely have my revenge."

Wei Yaoyao then joyfully ran away.

She returned to the pavilion, sitting while sighing.

This wasn’t quite the scenario she had envisioned.

According to her plan, she should have won beautifully on the first round, stunning everyone, then continued to win match after match, becoming the undisputed champion.

Who would have thought she’d falter at the first round.

So, people should dream less.

The frustrated anguish from failure drove her, after sighing, to work hard again, continuing to study the manual, muttering to herself while gesturing.

Xie Qingci and Song Xi walked past one after another, seeing a beauty engrossed in reading with a furrowed brow.

"Yu Xia."

The first to speak was Song Xi.

He seemed in good spirits, even a bit like teasing someone, smiling brilliantly.

Yu Xia looked up at them, raising an eyebrow.

How come these two were walking together? Xie Qingci can endure it?

She closed the manual, looking at them entering the pavilion: "Did you come to challenge me?"

Song Xi: "No, no, we’re just looking around, hoping to find some surprising manuals. Yu Xia, have you challenged others?"

Xie Qingci leaned against a pavilion pillar, bent his long legs, and said casually: "I haven’t seen the specifics of a challenge; could Yu Xia share a bit?"

Yu Xia hesitated, her expression complex as she glanced over at them.

"You two have a bit of an idol burden; this game is hard for you!"

It’s hard to imagine Xie Qingci shouting "Two orioles sing in the green willows" to attack Song Xi, and Song Xi shouting "I do" in fierce retaliation.

They wouldn’t be able to open their mouths, would they?

"Sigh, to play this game, you have to be bold enough, you know? Just earlier, Ning Yunchao and Wei Yaoyao already fought a round; it’s a shame you missed the great battle, otherwise you’d be speechless now."

Song Xi adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, sat opposite her, stretching his long legs to both sides, propping his elbows to watch her with a smile, glancing over at Xie Qingci with eyes full of a certain brightness.

No matter what he was thinking, his tone and posture were polite and gentlemanly, his smile quite courteous, truly fitting the description of a cultured scoundrel.

"How about a brief description, Yu Xia?"

"A verbal broadcast is no match for seeing with your own eyes," Yu Xia smirked, unchanging as she looked straight at him, "Or you could challenge me, and I’ll give you a live demonstration."

Her face was almost emblazoned with "Get ready for a trick from big sister."

Song Xi’s gaze fell on her face again.

Today her makeup was beautiful; she had done eyeliner, with an eye corner that seemed hooked, yet apart from this eye corner, her whole look seemed more like an unripe fruit on a branch, not at all along the mature and seductive line.

The contrast naturally drew more attention.

"Yu Xia," Xie Qingci spoke up, interrupting his thoughts, sidestepping to stand in front of him, "Did you lose the challenge to Wei Yaoyao or Ning Yunchao, waiting for others to challenge? How about me?"