Chapter 31: Passing the Water
Half a month later.
The White Tower, Second Corridor, Public Training Grounds.
“Next up, the teams drawn for Ring Number Five—Team Two and Team Nine.”
Xu Mengwei stood in the center of the grounds, temporarily taking on the role of the event’s host, speaking with great solemnity.
“Among them, Team Nine is ranked first in the grade with an excellent performance of nine consecutive wins. They currently have one last combat quota to fulfill. After this match, they will become the first team this year to complete the combat practice course.”
The surroundings were completely silent.
On the outer edge of the grounds, the two members of Team Two, Yu Yuan and her Sentinel teammate, exchanged a glance and walked onto the ring with a bitter smile.
This was a required major course exclusively for the graduating class, one that Guides and Sentinels had to take together. Every year at this time, in addition to organizing outdoor practical activities for the graduating class, the two academies would open this combat practice course in the second corridor.
The rules were as follows:
All Guides and Sentinels were to form two-person teams, which had to be a “Guide + Sentinel” configuration. One person could join a maximum of two teams. In special cases, one could apply for the teacher to assign a team based on the student’s information, or one could form a team of one.
After the team information was confirmed, the White Tower’s public system would conduct random matching. Everyone had to fight a total of ten matches. The course would last for a week.
Regardless of victory or defeat, one could not slack off. The entire training ground had cameras recording the battles, which both served as supervision and made it convenient for learning and observation.
Although credits were not given based on wins and losses, the system would automatically generate a leaderboard as an incentive. The time for each battle had to be controlled within one hour. If a winner could not be decided within an hour, the teacher would calculate points based on the battle process and determine the winner by points.
Two-thirds of the school doctors from both academies were already in position at the edge of the grounds.
Before Xu Mengwei had announced the system’s pairing results, the huge training ground had been a bit noisy due to the large number of people. But when he started speaking, the room fell silent.
Especially when he said the last sentence, “The teams for Ring Number Five are Team Two and Team Nine,” this cold silence reached its peak.
For no other reason than that Team Nine was the “special case” of this combat practice course.
The only team with only one person.
At this moment, Team Two had already steeled themselves and gone up. The person in question was still putting on his wrist guards at the edge of the grounds.
Even more rarely, even with the wrist guards on, a not-so-inconspicuous… hair tie? was exposed at the edge of both wrist guards.
Yes, it was a hair tie, the kind used for long hair. The one on his right hand was black, and the one on his left was a gradient of blue and gold.
The high-level students who had been chatting heatedly on the campus forum for this period of time could understand the meaning in each other’s eyes with just a glance.
[Tsk, a married man.]
So when they learned that Zhu Hui was planning to complete this course alone, they didn’t find it too strange.
Zhu Hui’s combat power was on a completely different level, and his stability coefficient was rated S. He was not like ordinary Sentinels who relied on a Guide’s help. His partner was sitting and watching from the sidelines. It was completely understandable that he didn’t form a team.
The nine consecutive wins in one day proved his strength. Even if his opponent in the tenth match was Yu Yuan, the class president of Class 1, there was no suspense. Her teammate was too far behind Zhu Hui, and her ability was not yet at the level where she could turn the tables.
However, for Xu Mengwei, who was acting as the host in the center of the grounds, his thoughts were much more complex than the students’.
He thought of this time eight years ago.
The long-haired Guide, now sitting in a wheelchair at the edge of the grounds, watching the battle as a teacher, had also once shone brightly here, in this very course.
The public training grounds of the second corridor were not as strictly managed as the training grounds of the first and third corridors, which were inside the two academies. They were often used as venues for inter-academy combat courses. If low-grade students could pass the safety test and would not be affected by the battles of the high-grade students, they could actually come and watch.
He had been lucky enough to squeeze in back then, so he had witnessed the entire process of Xu Xunyue completing this course.
This major course spanned seven days, and Xu Xunyue had also won ten consecutive matches on the first day, both spectacular and crushing. He had been so engrossed that he had forgotten the time. Later, when he remembered that he had accidentally skipped a theory class, he simply didn’t go.
…That was a perfect battle. Not only did he use his spiritual power to the extreme, but he also brought out the rarely studied Guide’s physical fitness to the extreme. With his cognitive level at the time, it was difficult for him to even learn a tenth of it.
Guide’s physical fitness. This was indeed a point that was often overlooked. Because in fact, it was a project that, no matter how much you trained, your performance in the field could not be compared to a Sentinel’s.
During exploration and combat in the wild, Guides and Sentinels each had their own duties. Sentinels would launch and block direct physical attacks, and were responsible for tasks that were particularly physically demanding, while Guides would protect their spiritual domains, stabilize the team, provide comfort, and assist in attacks.
In all places where battles would occur, Guides were protected behind Sentinels. There was no need to worry about emergency retreats. If their own spiritual body was fast, they would use their own spiritual body. If the Sentinel’s spiritual body was fast, they would use the Sentinel’s spiritual body. If they couldn’t use a spiritual body, their Sentinel teammate would find a way to carry them, pull them, or piggyback them… There were countless methods. They would use whichever was fastest. When it came to saving lives, every soldier in the Empire would not abandon their comrades and leave alone.
Even without special training, a Guide’s own physical fitness was good enough for daily life, and they could fully adapt to the severe cold.
So, most Guides, after completing the physical fitness courses set by the academy and getting an excellent score, would continue to focus on studying the use of spiritual power, just as Sentinels wouldn’t focus on studying the various uses of spiritual power.
But Xu Xunyue was different.
Eight years ago, Xu Mengwei had just started to get into the practical combat aspect of Guides, and Xu Xunyue’s performance had directly shattered his inherent cognition.
He couldn’t accurately describe what level of reaction speed and muscle memory that was, but, not to say it was as strong as a high-level Sentinel’s, at least it wasn’t a level that a Guide he knew could have.
How did he do it?
He was very curious, so he boldly walked toward the high-level Guide who had won ten consecutive matches.
The person hadn’t even broken a sweat. It was just that his high ponytail was a mess, so he stood at the edge of the grounds, took off his hair tie, and re-tied his long hair.
The twenty-year-old Xu Xunyue was surrounded by people, most of them graduating students, all fawning over him. The closer Xu Mengwei got, the more he felt the hot-blooded feeling he had felt while watching the battle rushing back to his head.
As he walked over, he also saw a Sentinel who had just been defeated tremblingly passing water to Xu Xunyue.
A genuine trembling. His face didn’t have the shy blush of a first love, but rather the pale look of someone who had been mentally attacked and was listless. His entire arm was trembling as he passed the water, as if he had Parkinson’s.
Xu Xunyue’s hand, which was tying his hair, paused. He gently shook his head, and the Sentinel hurriedly said sorry and turned to flee the crowd.
Xu Mengwei continued to approach. There were too many people, and he couldn’t squeeze in quickly. So he saw Xu Xunyue speak to Xia Feng, who was a little distance away.
“Teacher Xia, I clearly left my water with you. Why didn’t you give it to me earlier? Were you holding back, wanting to watch a good show?”
The middle-aged Guide, who already had white hair in his forties, walked over with a smile and returned the water to its owner.
“Didn’t I see that he was quite brave? His compatibility with you isn’t even 60%, yet he still dared to offer you water. That’s rare.”
“So it’s even more reckless. To come to me with less than 60% is completely irresponsible to himself. And, can you please not start worrying about me being lonely and miserable in my old age so early? I think being alone is fine. Even if someone reaches the 60% line, it’s not like we have to bond or be together…”
Xu Mengwei squeezed in front of him.
The blue-eyed Guide, who had just finished drinking water, looked at him with some surprise, thought for a moment, and said, “Are you looking for me?”
Xu Mengwei explained his confusion.
Xu Xunyue laughed after hearing it, exchanged a look with Xia Feng, and explained patiently:
“Everyone’s fighting style and future path are different. I’m an Offensive Guide, and I plan to go to the Undeveloped and Cataclysm Zones in the future, so I think it’s worth spending time on physical training. This will allow me to exert a strength far exceeding other Guides or Sentinels when I’m alone.”
“In addition, everyone’s physique is also slightly different. Among Guides, I’m the type who benefits more from various training.”
“But this is also very energy-consuming. Which path do you want to take in the future? The time for studying at the academy is limited. Although I also think being able to fight is super cool, you should think it through before you practice.”
At that time, the rules of this combat practice course were different from now. There was no special note—”If there is no team, one can also form a team of one.”
Everyone was defaulted to forming teams. One person could join two teams. As long as the individual didn’t slack off and fought ten matches, it was fine.
It was more comfortable and less effort to fight with a partner. Who would be a lone wolf at a time like this? In the two academies that valued order, there was no such thing as being unable to form a team due to interpersonal relationships.
Xu Xunyue was alone at that time.
He was also the first one-person team since this course was established.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he couldn’t.
At that time, Teacher Xia Feng was even prepared to help him apply for a replacement course. After all, the reason was right there. When Xu Xunyue had taken the practical class for mental soothing, he couldn’t find a single person to practice with.
But no one had expected that the twenty-year-old Xu Xunyue would ask, “It doesn’t say that one person can’t form a team, right?” and before the academy’s higher-ups could answer, he had gone up on stage alone.
In this kind of battle, the biggest problem a single Guide had to face was not letting themselves be attacked by the opposing Sentinel while being mentally interfered with. After all, their physiques and recovery abilities were different. A hard hit wouldn’t kill them, but it would take a long time to recover.
Led by Teacher Xia Feng, several of the graduating class teachers at that time were extremely nervous, afraid that this genius student would have an accident in the combat practice course. Their attention was more or less skewed, all looking in Xu Xunyue’s direction.
And with this look, they saw a myth for that year, and for every batch of Guides after that.
After Xu Xunyue graduated smoothly, the higher-ups of the two academies discussed it and added a note to the course rules that a one-person team was also possible. It was just that in the eight years since, there had been no second person, until today.
It was hard to say whether it was more difficult for a Guide or a Sentinel to form a one-person team. A single Sentinel had to guard against the opposing Guide’s mental interference even more. Besides, a Sentinel with a Guide’s assistance performed differently from one without.
However, as the course progressed, the “bets” that had been quietly discussed before the course officially began had all been settled.
“Sigh, Yi Chengli didn’t come to this class. Do you think the situation would be less one-sided if he had?”
“You’re overthinking it. Wasn’t he subdued by Zhu Hui in one move that time he lost control? But why didn’t he come?”
“It seems he took a leave of absence to recuperate, ever since that time he lost control.”
“I heard that too, but… hey, hey, hey, look—”
With a bang, the Sentinel from Team Two flew out of the ring.
Yu Yuan hurriedly made a gesture of surrender. By the time she had finished her move, Zhu Hui himself had already flown off the stage.
“Congratulations to Student Zhu! Team Nine has fought ten matches on the first day of the course and is ranked first on the leaderboard with an excellent record of ten consecutive wins!”
Xu Mengwei diligently acted as a ruthless broadcasting machine, but the person in question had already rushed to Xu Xunyue.
“Brother,” he stopped abruptly in front of the wheelchair and squatted down. “I won them all, on the first day, just like you.”
He had been on the stage for so long just now without even panting, but now, after running such a short distance, his breathing was a little hurried when he reached Xu Xunyue.
His amber eyes were bright, like a warm-colored light that had been turned on at some point, shining only for the one person he was looking at.
Hearing this, Xu Xunyue quickly realized what Zhu Hui was referring to. Zhu Hui had probably also heard some rumors about his student days.
He hadn’t even thought of that, but now some emotions were stirred up. He remembered his mood when he had taken this course eight years ago, and what he had done after the course ended.
By the way, he also remembered his conversation with Xia Feng, who was still an ordinary teacher back then.
People really did change.
Getting married was good. This Sentinel, the only one with a compatibility of over 60% with him, had to be his.
Although they were both one-person teams, the feeling of the person involved was different, and the feeling of the onlookers was also completely different.
Xu Xunyue looked down at the young Sentinel before him and found that Zhu Hui hadn’t brought anything with him for this course, not even water. He looked completely prepared for a quick battle.
He himself was also a teacher now. Although he wasn’t a teacher at the Sentinel Academy, if Zhu Hui had left his water with him, he would probably have passed it to him at this time.
That was a silent praise, and the pride of being a partner.
He looked at those amber eyes, then his gaze slid down to the lips that had not been kissed, and therefore still looked thin.
…They still look better when they’re wet.
They looked at each other for two seconds. The brilliant smile on Zhu Hui’s face had not yet dissipated. Xu Xunyue passed him his own cup.
Zhu Hui was stunned for a moment, took the cup, and looked at Xu Xunyue with a little surprise, and as if he already understood, as if he wanted another confirmation.
This scene, this timing, was indeed very suitable for passing water. Thinking this, Xu Xunyue ruffled the other’s messy short hair, his palm landing by Zhu Hui’s ear.
“It’s a drink I made myself. You had it the night before last… Your five senses are regulated, you can drink it.”
Zhu Hui’s smile became even more brilliant. If this wasn’t the public training grounds, he would probably have jumped up and kissed him.
“Thank you, brother ^^”
At the same time, Yu Yuan was pulling her teammate and preparing to walk in the direction Zhu Hui had run. Seeing Zhu Hui stop by Xu Xunyue’s side as if he were saying something, a premonition arose in her heart, and her footsteps unconsciously slowed down.
They had slowed down, but they were still walking.
But she soon felt that something was wrong.
Because her teammate had been left behind—her teammate was standing in place, not moving.
“What’s wrong?” Yu Yuan asked as she turned around, and saw her tall and strong teammate, who was like a mountain, standing like a stone statue rooted to the ground, his expression completely frozen.
“He, he, he, he, Zhu Hui…”
Her teammate stammered.
“What?”
“Zhu Hui he… he just said…”
Oh, right! A Sentinel’s hearing was much more sensitive than her own.
Yu Yuan suddenly understood. She approached her teammate with great understanding and said in a whisper:
“It’s okay, just tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone else—so what did he just say to Teacher Xu?”
“He said… he said…”
Her burly teammate’s face flushed red, looking as if he would never be able to repeat what he had heard in his life. In the end, he simply closed his eyes and stood there like a post, making Yu Yuan, who had thought she would hear some earth-shattering secret, anxious to death.
And on the other side, Zhu Hui was in a particularly good mood. He drank the water in large gulps, his Adam’s apple rolling obviously, his cheeks puffing out.
Xu Xunyue couldn’t resist pinching his cheek.
The twenty-year-old Zhu Hui was already fully grown, and there wasn’t much soft flesh on his face. He was the cold and sharp type that made people feel he was not to be trifled with. But for some reason, when Xu Xunyue looked at him, he always had the feeling that he would be very nice to pinch, that it would be soft.
Zhu Hui was pinched by him and, as if a pause button had been pressed, continued to stare at him without blinking.
Xu Xunyue’s heart moved. He extended his spiritual feelers and approached their mental link.
A Guide and a Sentinel with high compatibility and long-term cooperation could communicate through the mental link they had established. The Guide could use their spiritual power to convey their commands to the Sentinel in their mind.
The two of them had been quite busy recently. In the past half month, they had only helped each other a few times and had no further physical contact. Their current compatibility was 74.23%.
In the present day, where the distribution of compatibility and the corresponding number of people was in a pyramid shape, this value already exceeded 90% of existing partner relationships. Xu Xunyue could of course transmit information through the mental link.
So Zhu Hui’s brain received this sentence—
[How can our Student Zhu be so cute?]
