Zhou Minjia said angrily, "Fine, I'll try it."
The curator watched anxiously from the sidelines, but there was nothing he could do.
Both of them were his prized students, looking left and right, but they couldn't do anything.
He himself wasn't sure just how strong Cheng Qing was, but he knew that Zhou Minjia was very strong.
The students watching from the sidelines couldn't help but exclaim, "The Great Demon King is back!"
Losi paused, then turned to look at the student, a middle school boy. Seeing Losi looking at him, he smiled shyly and said, "Coach Cheng is actually very serious; he's always quite fierce when he's teaching us."
Losi was stunned; she simply couldn't imagine Cheng Qing like that. Σ(⊙▽⊙\"a
In fencing, victory or defeat can sometimes hinge on a single moment. Just as Zhou Minjia assumed a lunge position, intending to slowly approach, Cheng Qing swiftly closed in, leaping into the air as he neared her.
Zhou Minjia's pupils contracted sharply through the metal mesh of the mask; it was too fast.
She quickly tried to block with her sword, but Cheng Qing simply followed her direction and thrust his sword into her chest.
A beep sounded on the scoreboard, and Cheng Qing scored successfully.
In just 20 seconds, she successfully scored a point. And many people didn't even see the whole competition.
The curator stood there, completely stunned. That speed was definitely at the level of the national team.
She's not just a professional player, she's a pro! Xiaoxing is right, she should be on the national team!
Zhou Minjia came to her senses, completely stunned.
After all, she had participated in national competitions, and even professional players couldn't easily take a point from her.
However, throughout Cheng Qing's entire process, she, as her opponent, almost couldn't keep up with her pace.
Cheng Qing easily won the first point.
After scoring, she neither cheered nor mocked, but returned to her position and waited for the start of the new game.
Next, Zhou Minjia finally experienced firsthand what it felt like to be utterly crushed by someone.
Cheng Qing showed no mercy. Just like Zhou Minjia had treated Luo Xi, she used force beyond what was allowed to inflict wounds on Zhou Minjia's arms, chest, and neck with stabs and cuts.
Zhou Minjia was wearing fencing protective gear, and no one could see that she was covered in wounds.
But she was no novice; over the years, she had endured far more painful injuries.
She remained silent until Cheng Qing scored all 15 points. The entire match lasted less than 10 minutes. Not only that, she had no chance to retaliate.
All of Cheng Qing's confidence and dignity were shattered by this one game. No mercy was spared; the glory of being number one in the national competition was utterly meaningless at this moment.
"How are you feeling?" Cheng Qing took off her mask and asked Zhou Minjia.
Zhou Minjia was panting, and she also took off her mask, her face flushed from the intense exercise.
Cheng Qing walked up to her and extended his hand.
This is post-match etiquette; even if you've suffered a great injustice, you still have to shake hands with her and make peace.
The two shook hands, and Zhou Minjia kept her mouth shut and didn't say a word.
Cheng Qing chuckled, "It does feel good to crush noobs."
Zhou Minjia dared not say another word. Faced with absolute power, she was no different from Luo Xi.
Humiliation? Well, we can only endure it.
Cheng Qing turned to leave, but Zhou Minjia stepped forward, pulling at the wound on her waist, and she hissed.
But she still bravely spoke up: "Senior." Her form of address had already changed!
Cheng Qing stopped, and Zhou Minjia, enduring the pain, said, "A master like you should participate in this year's national team selection!"
Cheng Qing turned to look at her, and Zhou Minjia continued, "Luo Xi isn't worth it. When I went to participate in the preliminary rounds, I happened to pass by the recording site..."
The cameraman suddenly turned his lens to her; clearly, everyone had noticed the gossip that was about to unfold.
However, Cheng Qing threw the mask she was holding onto the ground with a thud. Then she strode up to her, her face icy: "What do you want to say?"
Author's Note:
Chapter 9
“I saw…” Zhou Minjia licked her lips. Cheng Qing’s gaze was now incredibly oppressive.
Zhou Minjia, feeling pressured by Cheng Qing's gaze, dared not look at Cheng Qing and could only look to the side. Then she whispered, "She and Ye Lingyun are arguing. They are hiding in the back and arguing fiercely."
She spoke softly, and no one except Cheng Qing heard her.
But these words only made Cheng Qing raise an eyebrow. Zhou Minjia continued, "That Luo Xi is incredibly arrogant. Even after Ye Lingyun apologized, she still slapped Ye Lingyun."
Cheng Qing smiled and said, "This is it?"
Zhou Minjia was taken aback. Her change from calling Cheng Qing "Cheng Qing" to "senior" was a sign of her shift in attitude towards Cheng Qing and a sign of her growing respect for him.
She believed that someone as highly skilled as Cheng Qing must also be a person of good character.
Cheng Qing tapped Zhou Minjia's injured arm with his sword and asked her, "What do you know about Luo Xi? Or rather, what do you know about Ye Lingyun? Have you been involved in either of their lives, even for a minute?"
Zhou Minjia: "..."
Cheng Qing: "To win a championship in a competition in just two years, you must have worked very hard during those days, right?"
Zhou Minjia lowered her head. Yes, it was very hard.
Cheng Qing sneered: "In this world, it's not just fencing that's tough. Everyone works hard. You're just someone who happened to be passing by and eavesdropped on other people's disputes, yet you're standing on a high ground trying to label Luo Xi as arrogant and domineering? Zhou Minjia, you're still too green."
After saying that, Cheng Qing ignored her and turned to walk towards Luo Xi.
Standing below the stage, Luo Xi saw Cheng Qing walking towards her unharmed and gave her a bright smile.
Losi's eyes curved slightly, shimmering like water, filled with a deep, indescribable affection and joy.
Cheng Qing's solemn expression vanished, bathed in sunlight, and she smiled victoriously at her, saying, "As your roommate, I tried my best, Losi."
Losi nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, you're working so hard, I'll cook for you tonight."
Cheng Qing immediately replied, "Thank you, I'll do it myself."
Losi: "???"
Liu Suoyu and Lin Shandie, who were behind Luo Xi, also burst into laughter and gave Cheng Qing a thumbs up.
Losi turned to look at the two of them, her face growing increasingly bewildered.
Cheng Qing walked to her side, smiled helplessly, reached out and ruffled her curly hair, saying, "You're a princess, you can't cook."
Lossie blushed and glared at her, saying, "Don't call me that again."
Cheng Qing: "Okay, okay, I won't yell anymore. Did Luo Xi vent her anger?"
Luo Xi looked at Zhou Minjia not far away. She was still standing there watching Cheng Qing's back. Her eyes were complicated, seemingly containing admiration, sadness, envy and a little bit of respect.
Luo Xi frowned, stepped forward to block her gaze from Cheng Qing, and then turned to Cheng Qing, saying, "I've vented my anger."
Cheng Qing hummed in agreement, handed the hat to Xiao Xing who had come forward wanting to say a few words of admiration, and then said to Luo Xi, "It's good that you've vented your anger. Come in with me."
Losi: "Huh??? Where are we going?"
Cheng Qing fixed her long black hair back in place and casually said, "The changing room."
Losi: "...Where are we going?"
Cheng Qing turned to look at her, puzzled: "Applying medicine! I have a first-aid kit in my closet, don't you need it?"
Losi choked, then silently followed, muttering, "Yes."
Liu Suoyu chimed in, "Teacher, we also..."
Cheng Qing glanced at Liu Suoyu and Lin Shandie and said, "You two shouldn't follow. Go change your clothes! Also, losing isn't a big deal. Losing to a professional is nothing to be ashamed of."
Before they knew it, this place had become Cheng Qing's domain. The three stars, any one of whom would be a big shot on their own, followed Cheng Qing around with smiles, acting like his apprentices.
Cheng Qing pulled Luo Xi up: "Hurry up."
Losi: "Oh."
Seeing Cheng Qing lead Luo Xi away, the assistant director quickly winked at the cameraman. We just received news that the "Eternal CP" hashtag has officially surpassed 100,000 followers.
This is only after two days of live streaming, yet the momentum has already grown so rapidly.
How could we let such a hot topic pass us by?
The photographer quickly and stealthily crept over. The changing room wasn't large to begin with, and carrying his camera, he could clearly see the bench in the middle of the room. Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to film anything he shouldn't. He only started recording after Cheng Qing sat down next to Luo Xi with the first-aid kit.
The bench was wide enough that the camera could see Losie sitting on the side, wearing a white tank top, her fair and alluring arms covered in blood.
Cheng Qing sat cross-legged beside her, with a first-aid kit next to her. The kit was open, and Cheng Qing was taking medicine out of it.
He said, "During a competition, if you realize something is wrong, you can withdraw from the game."
Luo Xi: "I won't give up... Aaaaaaaah!!! It hurts! Cheng, Qing."
Cheng Qing gave a rather unfriendly smile: "Didn't you say you were going to call me Qingqing?"
Rossi looked at her with teary eyes: "Why were you hitting me so hard?"
"I think you're very brave!" Cheng Qing lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them.
Losi was taken aback by her indifferent expression, but also felt wronged.
“Being brave…is also afraid of pain!” Luo Xi looked at Cheng Qing, very dissatisfied: “You’re bullying me.”
Cheng Qing moved closer to Luo Xi, his lips almost touching the tip of her ear.
She heard Cheng Qing's seductive voice ask, "Am I bullying you?"
Her voice was tinged with laughter, and Rossi was momentarily speechless, captivated by her charm.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Cheng Qing assumed that she knew she was wrong, so she picked up the gauze from the side and continued, "If you're afraid of pain, don't force yourself. If you get injured, you'll only hurt yourself."
Losi turned to look at the 10cm-long scar on her arm, and held back her whining, feeling wronged: "Can't she provoke me?"
"Oh~!" Cheng Qing squinted, then mercilessly sprayed some more medicine onto the wound.
The drug's effects seeped into the wound, causing Losi to gasp and turn to glare at her: "You did this on purpose."