Quiet. It was so quiet in the massive war zone that everyone could have heard a pin drop.
Everything seemed to have come to a standstill as everyone gaped with their jaws open at the two figures standing in the center of the ring.
The golden rays of the sun were scattered upon the two figures who had remained motionless in the center of the ring, while the light breeze carried fallen leaves towards them.
Xiao Jing blinked a few times, confirming that she was sprawled out on Shen Chengfeng's body. Yup, she felt perfectly fine and was moving just fine too. Besides, it was hard not to appreciate the fact that someone had cushioned her fall.
But why was there something soft attached to her mouth?
Xiao Jing's eyes traveled downwards, only to realize that another pair of lips were stuck to hers.
The other pair of lips were soft and kind of cool to the touch.
Xiao Jing frantically scrambled off Shen Chengfeng. Perhaps it was because she was too nervous, Xiao Jing lost her balance, and fell back onto him.
Shen Chengfeng stared expressionlessly at the clumsy person who had sat just up only to fall again. His expression darkened, and he lifted his hands and shoved Xiao Jing onto the ground brutally.
Xiao Jing rolled to one side and landed face up. Looking at the scorching sun above her, she covered her mouth awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"Get up. Let's continue," Shen Chengfeng said emotionlessly as if what just happened had not affected him whatsoever.
Xiao Jing got up from the ground somewhat clumsily, ignoring the watchful eyes upon her. She cleared her throat and said to Shen Chengfeng, "Commander, I may overestimate my abilities sometimes, but I do know when it would be wise for me to submit to the circumstances. I concede defeat. I have lost to you in today's match."
"You do know what your scores are like, right? You have been at the bottom since the beginning. If you come in last again today, you may as well pack up and return to Regiment 525."
Not knowing how to continue, Xiao Jing furrowed her brows. The awkward atmosphere did not help.
Shen Chengfeng, on the other hand, showed no signs of hesitation. A tall figure flashed past Xiao Jing, and seconds later, punched her in the shoulder.
Xiao Jing was flung quite a distance as a result of the punch and landed heavily on the ground. Instantly, her face became as white as a sheet of paper, no doubt caused by the terrible pain that had ensued. It felt as if her shoulder blade had been broken.
Like before, Shen Chengfeng appeared in front of Xiao Jing like a phantom, saying to her once again, "Get up. Let's continue." He effortlessly lifted her prone form from the ground and raised her high in the air.
Being suspended in the air and held in his hands, Xiao Jing had difficulty struggling free. She gritted her teeth and tried doing a wrist lock. With some leverage, she managed to escape his grip.
Shen Chengfeng seemed to have been prepared that she would escape his hold, so he lifted one of his legs, and launched a kick at her.
Lin Qi instinctively closed his eyes. He did not think it would be possible for anyone to dodge Shen Chengfeng's vicious kick. The person on the receiving end of that kick was bound to end up with a few broken ribs.
"D*mn. What the heck is that?" Mu Xichi exclaimed in surprise.
Lin Qi quickly opened his eye to the sight of Xiao Jing clinging onto Shen Chengfeng's thighs and then chomping down on it. After successfully inflicting pain on the Commander, she climbed up his body and elbowed him in the neck.
"Hu, hu, hu." Xiao Jing panted as she wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth. She watched tentatively, as Shen Chengfeng finally stopped attacking.
Shen Chengfeng touched his neck and was somewhat stunned at the mild pain he was feeling. Narrowing his eyes, he then stared at the battered person before him. Other than Xiao Yu, Xiao Jing was the only other person who had managed to last this long in his hands.
He wouldn't think twice about saying that everyone present would be capable of tackling Xiao Jing to the ground, what with her weak and skinny body. Heck, they might even end up maiming or killing her in the process. However, Xiao Jing did improve a lot within a short period, so she deserved to be looked at in a different light.
"Are we continuing, Commander?" Xiao Jing asked with a grin.
Ignoring her taunt, Shen Chengfeng walked right out of the ring. He then turned to Pei Yi and said, "It's a draw."
Everyone, not just Pei Yi, was taken aback by what Shen Chengfeng had just said.
What did he mean by that?
Since when was there ever a tie in Sheng Chengfeng's track records?
"No, I have lost," Xiao Jing insisted, as she ran up to him. As if proving her point, Xiao Jing's eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she then collapsed to the ground.
Lin Qi caught the falling body in the nick of time, and shouted anxiously, "Xiao Jing? Second Lieutenant Xiao Jing?"
There was no response. Xiao Jing had passed out entirely in Lin Qi's arms.
Pei Yi was uncertain as to how they should proceed, so he asked his Commander, "Is it a tie, or has Xiao Jing lost?"
Staring unblinkingly as Lin Qi carried Xiao Jing in his arms, Shen Chengfeng's eyes narrowed. With a wave of his hands, he answered, "He lost! Xiao Jing lost!"
After that, Shen Chengfeng left without taking a second glance.
"Pass Xiao Jing to the medical officer, Lin Qi. It's your turn next. You're up against Jiang Si," said Pei Yi, as he pointed towards the medical personnel who were on standby.
...
Night had fallen, and the officer on sentry duty was diligently carrying out his duties.
It was misty inside the infirmary.
Lying on a hospital bed, Xiao Jing was rousing from her sleep. She blanked out for a second, not knowing where she was.
There was finally some color in Xiao Jing's face. She attempted to sit up, but her body was in too much pain for her to do so.
Xiao Jing seemed to recall that something had happened today. Her arms, her shoulders, her waist – She was aching all over. Even her lips hurt.
"You kissed the devil incarnate today?" A mocking voice rose from a corner of the infirmary, startling Xiao Jing so much that she did a backflip and jumped up from the bed.