Chapter Thirty-Six: The Battle

For him to humble himself before a mere girl? Impossible! Such a thing would compromise his standing as the head of the house.

The other elders of the Su family frowned, clearly disapproving of his stance. One even took the time to analyze the situation with strained patience. "Patriarch, you must look at the bigger picture. Based on her current performance, she is almost certain to secure a spot—certainly more so than Su Yunqi. If she enters a major sect, her future will be transformed; she will not stop here, but will only grow stronger and stronger."

"When that day comes, she alone could serve as the Su family’s bulwark. Who would dare offend the Su family then? Who would dare challenge your authority?"

The elder laid out his logic, hoping to persuade the patriarch to think rationally rather than impulsively. Su Zhentian’s resolve wavered; the elder’s words were not without merit. If bowing his head could mend the relationship between Su Yunqing and the family, and secure a reliable patron, perhaps it was not an impossible course of action.

Seeing him waver, the elder pressed on, "Furthermore, you are her grandfather. What granddaughter holds a grudge against her own grandfather forever? She might even be waiting for you to offer her a graceful way out!"

Su Zhentian’s expression softened significantly. He nodded and said, "I will give what you have said careful consideration."

"Good. I hope the Patriarch will prioritize the future of the Su family," the elder added, unable to resist one final admonition to ensure the patriarch wouldn't dismiss the matter for the sake of his so-called dignity.

Su Zhentian frowned at the elder, his eyes flashing with impatience. He detested being spoken to in such a commanding tone. Yet, sitting in this position, he could not always do as he pleased; he had to adapt to the circumstances. Even if he felt dissatisfied, he had to endure it.

"Enough. For now, let’s quickly get someone to treat them. After all, the Su family’s future cannot do without Yunqi!" She had been carefully nurtured since childhood, so he could not simply abandon her. He turned his gaze to the others, and an elder immediately rose to see to the matter.

The rest remained where they were; Su Yunqing still had matches ahead, and they wanted to see how far she could go.

As time passed, more contestants were eliminated. Soon, only Su Yunqing and Xiao Jinghuai remained. Xiao Jinghuai frowned, staring at Su Yunqing, who stood opposite him, ready for the final match. "I never imagined you could hold out until now. I suppose it’s just good luck."

Su Yunqing had no interest in idle chatter. She turned her eyes to the match official and asked, "I am ready. When do we begin?"

"The match begins now!" the official announced, having confirmed Xiao Jinghuai’s readiness.

As the words fell, Su Yunqing moved with blinding speed, catching him completely off guard. A moment later, sensing something amiss, his expression shifted, and he scrambled to dodge.

"Too late!" Su Yunqing declared, her strike landing squarely on his arm.

Xiao Jinghuai winced in pain and glared at her. "Hmph, that was nothing but luck. I won’t be so careless again. I won’t give you another opening!"

"Empty talk!" Anyone could boast. She remained unfazed by his words; instead, she looked at him with undisguised contempt and loathing.

Xiao Jinghuai channeled his spiritual energy and lunged forward, golden light blazing as he struck toward her. "I advise you to surrender gracefully, lest you suffer physical pain! I do not like fighting women, and I dislike striking them even more. I am giving you a chance—withdraw now." He spoke with the condescending tone of someone bestowing a favor.

"Enough with the nonsense. You claim you don't like striking women, yet you hit harder than anyone else. What right do you have to say such things? If you aren't ashamed, I am ashamed for you!" Her face was filled with disgust, her tone dripping with mockery.

"What!" His movements quickened, his face darkening. He perceived her words as a humiliation, a taunt that stripped him of his dignity. It reminded him of his fight with Su Yunqi; he had been desperate to win, putting everything into the battle, and only when he finally snapped out of his focus did he realize he had already defeated her—and with heavy blows at that. He had deliberately tried to suppress the memory, but now that she had brought it up, he felt deeply embarrassed.

"What? Is your pride wounded?" Su Yunqing sneered, her movements accelerating. Faced with Xiao Jinghuai’s assault, she did not fall behind; in fact, she seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

This put immense pressure on Xiao Jinghuai, and his demeanor became erratic. Furious at her words, he snapped, "Nonsense! I am thinking of your best interests, yet you refuse to show appreciation. If that is how you want it, don't blame me for being heartless!"

"I am still offering you a chance. If you surrender now, I will consider allowing you to stand on equal footing with Yunqi—no distinction of rank! Even if you lose, this match will not affect you. There is more than one spot; you can still accompany me to a major sect. There is no need to be so stubborn and end up covered in wounds!"

To be honest, he was feeling uncertain and wanted to avoid any risk. If she surrendered voluntarily, it would be ideal—he could win the match beautifully without being injured. Moreover, the wounds he sustained from his fight with Su Yunqi had not yet fully healed, putting him at a disadvantage. He also had no idea what other hidden cards she might be holding.

After the previous rounds, he no longer underestimated her as he once had; instead, he was filled with reservations. Naturally, he hoped to resolve the trouble with mere words.

But he had overestimated his own charm and underestimated Su Yunqing. She was no longer the girl she once was; she would not be swayed by his rhetoric.

"Do you take me for a fool? Surrender? Why?" She looked at him with an interrogative gaze, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile thick with irony. "Are you so certain you can win? Or is it that you are afraid?"

Xiao Jinghuai suppressed his rage. No one had ever dared to treat him with such an attitude; as a prince, he was rarely shown such disrespect. Now, he was experiencing it all from her. He wanted to kill her on the spot, but that was impossible. Though they were in a match, they could not simply kill their opponent, or the academy would demand accountability.