"Oh my god, that's exactly the goddess of my dreams!" Zhao Manyan exclaimed.
As a seasoned veteran in the world of women, he thought he had seen it all. Yet today, someone truly extraordinary stood before him. Zhao Manyan's true nature flared up as he theatrically swept his bangs aside, giving Mu Ningxue what he believed was a smoldering look.
Wasn't coming to the capital supposed to be about experiencing life? This moment, however, only succeeded in enraging the group across from them.
"How dare this guy flirt with the captain?"
"Just wait—if he steps onto the field, I'll be the first to knock him out!"
"Xuexue, don't worry. The moment he gets on, I'll teach him a lesson for you!" declared a sycophant as he hurried to ingratiate himself with Mu Ningxue.
But Mu Ningxue, standing gracefully at the center of her team, ignored them entirely.
No.
Ye Chenfeng wasn't there.
Mu Ningxue discreetly scanned the group from Mingzhu Academy, her icy gaze flitting from face to face. Yet, no matter how many times she looked, there was no sign of him.
What's going on?
"Teacher, is Mingzhu Academy missing someone?" she asked, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of concern.
Lu Yiming, standing beside her, took a quick count. Sure enough, there were only eight people on the opposing team—one short of their full roster.
"Yes, it seems their captain is missing," Lu Yiming replied thoughtfully. "Perhaps he had urgent matters to attend to? It's not uncommon for exchange competitions to have reserves since only eight players are needed for two matches."
But as Lu Yiming thought about it, a smirk played on his lips.
Could this be their excuse for an impending loss? If they were to lose both matches, wouldn't it be convenient for them to claim, 'If our captain were here, we'd have crushed you!'?
"Well, I bet their so-called captain didn't even come," Lu Yiming declared confidently.
Mu Ningxue shook her head lightly. "He's here."
"He's here? Did you see him?" Lu Yiming asked, his certainty wavering.
"I picked him up when he arrived yesterday," Mu Ningxue explained calmly, "and I personally escorted him to the dormitory last night. He's in the imperial capital—of that, I'm sure."
Her words left everyone from the Imperial Capital Academy in stunned silence.
Wait…
Mu Ningxue?!
She personally picked him up, spent the day with him, and then even dropped him off?
Even for ordinary people, this would be a surprising level of hospitality. But for Mu Ningxue—icy, untouchable Mu Ningxue—it bordered on the unimaginable.
Lu Yiming, struggling to process this, glanced at the roster for Mingzhu Academy. He lingered on Ye Chenfeng's name and photo, noting his dignified and striking appearance.
"That's him?" he asked.
"Yes," Mu Ningxue affirmed. "We've known each other since we were kids, and his strength may not be inferior to mine."
Her statement caused an uproar of emotions among her team.
Lu Zhenghe's expression darkened visibly.
This guy grew up with Mu Ningxue? He even spent the entire day with her?
Unforgivable.
His resentment festered into a steely resolve. If Ye Chenfeng dared to step onto the battlefield, Lu Zhenghe was determined to crush him.
"Teacher," Lu Zhenghe said darkly, "even if that guy shows up, what difference does it make? We'll destroy him."
Lu Yiming shared the sentiment, nodding in agreement. "Yes, even if he's as strong as Ningxue claims, their team's overall strength is scattered and no match for us. They're bound to lose."
Meanwhile, where was Ye Chenfeng?
Oh, he wasn't concerned with the competition. After an early breakfast, he decided to enjoy some sightseeing—the Great Wall, to be precise.
Standing atop the towering structure, overlooking the rugged mountains and endless forests, Ye Chenfeng admired the majestic view. The ancient wall, weathered but resolute, had withstood centuries of assaults.
Curious, he stretched out his hand and tested its sturdiness with telekinesis.
"Interesting," he murmured as he increased his magical output, observing a minuscule crack form on the ancient stone. "It's tougher than it looks."
Just as he was about to delve deeper into his experiment, his phone buzzed.
"Ong~ Ong~"
He glanced at the caller ID. Mu Ningxue?
Answering it, he barely had time to greet her before her icy voice scolded him.
"Where are you? Why aren't you at the competition?"
Ye Chenfeng froze for a moment, caught completely off guard.