CHAPTER 216: GRAND COMPETITION XV

The ten-minute break felt like heaven.

Han Yi lay like a corpse,

arms spread,

soul floating somewhere above his body.

Lei Feng sipped water like an old man recovering from war.

Mu Chen leaned back, breathing slowly.

Yue Shanshan stretched like she was getting ready for a morning jog,

not like she had bullied three people today.

Ling Qingxue sat still,

eyes closed,

quiet as falling snow.

The breeze moved softly over them,

cool and gentle,

as if comforting the wounded.

Students whispered everywhere—

"Who’s dying next round?"

"I hope it’s not me..."

"Ling Qingxue didn’t even sweat!"

"Han Yi flew more times than a bird!"

Han Yi groaned,

"...I want to go home."

But Tian Lei stood up,

voice loud and full of energy he clearly stole from everyone else.

"Time’s up!

ROUND TWO BEGINS NOW!"

Han Yi’s soul returned to his body just so it could panic again.

"No— no no— already?!"

Lei Feng cried,

"Brother, we just sat down!"

Mu Chen massaged his shoulders.

"My bones are still confused..."

Yue Shanshan cracked her neck.

"Good. I’m warmed up."

Ling Qingxue opened her eyes—

calm,

cold,

focused.

Tian Lei raised his hand to gather everyone’s attention.

"In Round Two,

the matches will be faster,

the fights will be harder,

and the weak will cry!"

Han Yi whispered,

"I am the weak..."

Students gathered again around the stage.

The air felt different now—

sharper,

tighter,

like the start of a storm.

Tian Lei read the board.

"FIRST MATCH OF ROUND TWO—

Mu Chen vs Lei Feng!"

Mu Chen froze.

Lei Feng froze.

Then both pointed at the other at the same time.

"WHY HIM?!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

Han Yi wiped his tears.

"This is beautiful..."

Then winced.

"Ow... laughing hurts..."

Tian Lei clapped once.

"Both fighters, get on stage.

Now."

Mu Chen dragged himself up.

Lei Feng crawled halfway before standing.

They looked at each other with deep brotherly despair.

Lei Feng said,

"...Brother, let’s go easy."

Mu Chen nodded,

"Yes. Gentle. Soft. Kind."

The crowd shouted,

"NO! FIGHT FOR REAL!"

Han Yi sighed softly,

"Ah... men truly have no peace."

Tian Lei raised his hand.

The breeze stopped.

Silence fell.

"BEGIN."

Mu Chen and Lei Feng stood facing each other,

both trembling,

both regretting every life choice that led them here.

Lei Feng lifted his fists weakly.

"...Brother, maybe we pretend to fight?"

Mu Chen nodded quickly.

"Yes. A light tap. Then we both fall. Perfect plan."

The crowd leaned in.

Tian Lei narrowed his eyes.

Both men swallowed hard.

Lei Feng stepped forward first,

barely lifting his arm—

a soft tap, like knocking gently on a door.

It landed on Mu Chen’s shoulder.

Mu Chen flew back dramatically.

"AARGH—! SUCH POWER—!"

He rolled three times,

clutching his chest,

pretending to cough blood he didn’t have.

The crowd booed instantly.

"FAKE!"

"THAT WAS WEAK!"

"FIGHT FOR REAL!"

Tian Lei’s eyebrow twitched.

"Again."

Mu Chen sat up, defeated.

"...Brother, they want honesty."

Lei Feng sighed.

"We’re going to die..."

They both stood again.

This time Mu Chen attacked—

slow, cautious,

like a grandma pushing a grocery cart.

Lei Feng blocked—

also slow,

also gentle,

as if handling fragile glass.

The crowd screamed louder.

"WE CAN MOVE FASTER THAN THIS!"

"What are they doing?!"

"This is a nap, not a fight!"

Han Yi nodded on the sidelines.

"To be fair... this is what I would do too."

Ling Qingxue blinked once.

Translation: Pathetic.

Yue Shanshan facepalmed.

Tian Lei finally snapped.

"ENOUGH! FIGHT PROPERLY OR I’ll MAKE YOU SPAR WITH ME!"

Both men shivered.

Lei Feng whispered,

"...Brother. We must sacrifice ourselves."

Mu Chen answered,

"...For honor."

They charged at the same time.

Fists swung.

Feet moved.

Bodies clashed.

For a moment,

it actually looked like a real battle.

BAM!

Mu Chen hit Lei Feng’s jaw.

POW!

Lei Feng elbowed Mu Chen’s ribs.

THUD!

Both slammed their foreheads together.

They staggered back,

eyes unfocused,

brains rattling.

Han Yi whispered,

"This is the stupidest beautiful thing I’ve ever seen..."

Both fighters breathed hard.

Mu Chen lifted his fist.

Lei Feng lifted his.

They nodded.

Then—

Both punched each other at the exact same time.

BAM!

Both flew backward—

fell—

and didn’t get up.

Silence.

Then the crowd exploded.

"DOUBLE KO!"

"Amazing!"

"Unexpected! Incredible!"

Tian Lei sighed deeply,

but he couldn’t hide a tiny smile.

He raised both hands.

"Draw.

Both fighters are out for this round."

On the ground, Mu Chen croaked,

"...Worth it..."

Lei Feng wheezed,

"My face... is gone..."

Han Yi clapped weakly,

"Brotherhood... truly painful..."

Ling Qingxue watched quietly,

expression unreadable.

Yue Shanshan stretched.

"My turn soon."

The wind moved gently again,

cool and soft,

as if laughing with them.

Tian Lei checked the board.

"NEXT MATCH—"

He looked up.

"YUE SHANSHAN vs HAN YI!"

Han Yi stopped breathing.

"...I refuse my life."

Han Yi’s legs turned to jelly.

Yue Shanshan stepped onto the stage, rolling her shoulders like she was getting ready for a warm-up, not a match.

The crowd cheered loudly—

everyone loved watching Han Yi suffer.

Han Yi forced himself to stand.

He pointed at Tian Lei.

"Are you sure the board is correct? Maybe check again? Maybe it’s upside-down?"

Tian Lei didn’t even blink.

"No."

Han Yi looked at Yue Shanshan.

"Can we... talk about this peacefully?"

Yue Shanshan smiled.

"No."

Han Yi groaned.

"My soul hurts..."

He walked slowly toward the stage, each step heavier than the last.

Mu Chen, lying flat on the ground, lifted a hand weakly.

"Brother... just surrender early..."

Lei Feng, barely conscious, added,

"Don’t try to be a hero... heroes die..."

Han Yi took a deep breath.

"I will face my destiny."

Then he whispered,

"I hate my destiny."

He climbed onto the stage.

Yue Shanshan raised her fists casually.

"Ready?"

Han Yi raised his hand like a scared student.

"Before we start... can I ask one thing?"

She tilted her head.

"What?"

Han Yi pointed at the sky.

"If I get knocked out, please at least angle me toward the sun. It feels... comforting."

Yue Shanshan nodded.

"Sure."

Tian Lei raised his hand.

"Positions!"

The crowd leaned in.

Han Yi swallowed hard.

"Here we go again..."

Tian Lei dropped his hand.

"BEGIN!"