But Chui Fong Lee didn't move to surrender.
Instead—
He dropped a talisman to the ground.
A flash of smoke. A pulse of qi.
The beast appeared.
Shadowfang.
Nearly three meters tall. Gleaming black fur. Golden fangs that could tear spiritual shields apart. And glowing red eyes that burned with rage.
---
The beast roared — and lunged.
Jia Wei Xin barely had time to draw back. Her lungs burned. Her qi felt like dry leaves crackling in her veins. Her fingers trembled just a little.
Behind her, someone was already moving.
From the sidelines, Chang Dian's spell flared brighter in his palm.
Behind him, Liu Mo Fei's sword hand tightened. The next twitch from the beast, and he'd split it in half.
But neither moved.
Not yet.
Because they knew.
Even the smallest distraction now could cost her life.
One was ready to save her.
One was choosing to trust her.
So she planted her feet.
And stood.
---
The beast circled.
She watched. Counted its steps. Its breathing. Every flick of its tail. She tuned out the shouting, the tension, even the burning ache in her limbs.
The beast roared again — louder, more furious than before. Its eyes locked on Jia Wei Xin, and this time, there was no hesitation. It charged, claws gleaming like blades.
Jia Wei Xin gritted her teeth. Her qi was nearly gone. Her muscles screamed. Any distraction — one stray thought, one flicker of doubt — could be fatal.
She ducked. Rolled. Let its claws graze her shoulder — pain shot down her arm — and then struck.
Her blade pierced the side of its neck, where two energy meridians overlapped — a beast's weak point.
The beast convulsed. Roared.
But—
---
It lunged again — low this time, claws sweeping out to crush.
The crowd didn't even have time to scream.
Jia Wei Xin dodged, barely, tumbling across the stone platform with a hiss of pain. Her other shoulder was cut — shallow, but sharp.
And then—
She saw her.
Elder Hua Lian.
Still standing at the edge of the ring like some delicate flower in bloom, hands neatly clasped, robes fluttering in the wind.
Between the beast and the crowd.
Between her and safety.
And she wasn't moving.
Not calling for a stop.
Not summoning a shield.
Just watching.
Like she wanted to see her fall.
Something cold surged through Jia Wei Xin.
Fine.
Then let's all play your game.
---
The beast roared and charged again — and this time, Jia Wei Xin ran.
Straight at Elder Hua Lian.
The crowd gasped.
"What is she doing?!"
Hua Lian's eyes widened. "W-What—?"
Too late.
The beast followed at full speed, blinded by rage, focused on one target only.
At the last second—
Jia Wei Xin leapt aside.
The shadowfang beast's massive paw came crashing down—
Straight onto Hua Lian's face and arm.
A sickening crunch echoed through the air.
Screams followed.
Hua Lian crumpled instantly, blood splattering across the platform. Her face — crushed on one side. Her right arm — mangled beyond recognition.
She wailed in horror.
"My face! My arm! My—!"
---
The beast, stunned by its own impact, froze for one brief second too long.
That was all Jia Wei Xin needed.
She turned, used her last remaining breath of qi, and slashed up into its exposed neck.
The blade struck true.
With a final gurgle, the beast collapsed at her feet.
Dead.
---
The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Jia Wei Xin stood in the middle of it all — bloodied, panting, her sword arm trembling.
The beast lay dead behind her.
---
Elder Hua Lian was dragged away screaming, bloodied and broken. Several elders watched in cold silence — none moved to help her.
Chui Fong Lee, stunned and disarmed, was pale as chalk.
At the platform, Liu Mo Fei stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Chui Fong Lee," he said calmly, "has violated sect regulations. Releasing a beast during a friendly match without authorization — especially against a fatigued opponent — is grounds for immediate expulsion."
One of the elders stood. "Agreed."
Another nodded. "Seconded."
"No objections."
Chui Fong Lee, still on the ground nursing a bruised ego and a bleeding shoulder, paled. "W-Wait, I didn't mean—"
"You lost," Liu Mo Fei said flatly. "And you endangered someone under my care."
That was all.
---
But Jia Wei Xin didn't hear anything. Didn't feel the heat of victory. The edges of her vision had gone dark. Her knees wobbled. Her breath came in shallow gasps. Her qi was gone — completely drained. She could barely feel her limbs.
Someone was saying her name.
Far away.
"Jia Wei Xin!"
She tried to look up — and the world tilted sideways.
---
Before she hit the ground, strong arms caught her.
Liu Mo Fei.
He moved faster than anyone could see, appearing beside her in a flicker of spiritual light. One arm around her shoulders, the other gently steadying her wrist, he guided her down into a seated position on the stage.
"You're out of qi," he said softly, already channeling energy into her palm. His touch was warm. Anchoring.
Jia Wei Xin gave a tired half-smile. "Oh. That explains why I feel like a tofu block."
"You shouldn't have used that last move."
"You shouldn't have made me train until I could."
He huffed — almost a laugh. Then, after a beat, "You did well."
"Did I win?" she mumbled.
He paused. A real, quiet smile curved on his lips.
"You ended them."
---
He looked at her again, this time fully, letting his eyes trace the messy strands of hair, the blood on her sleeve, the proud lift of her chin even as she sagged in exhaustion.
And then he breathed out.
She's safe.
He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath the whole time.
His girl was so cool.
So terrifyingly, stupidly, infuriatingly cool.
If she ever died, he'd drag her back just to lecture her.
And then hug her.
And then definitely propose again.
---
A few steps away, Chang Dian rubbed his chin, admiring the battlefield like a painter appreciating a masterpiece.
The mangled beast. The screaming elder. The sheer chaos.
He let out a low whistle.
"That stunt with Elder Hua Lian… bold, wicked—totally my style," he muttered.
Then he grinned wide.
His girl was so cool.
So dangerously, brilliantly, wildly cool.
He'd kill her if she died.
---
Above, the elders were already whispering about the next event.
But down on the stage, Liu Mo Fei remained beside her — silent, calm, and completely unbothered by the chaos around them.
Because Jia Wei Xin had just proved what he already knew.
She wasn't just a disciple.
She was his.