Chapter 169: Tang San's Unfounded Confidence. Who Knows Where His Confidence Comes From?
Sure enough.
Seeing him remain silent, Yu Xiaogang spoke again, his tone softening slightly.
"Lin Qingmo, if you are to participate, I have a suggestion."
"This battle is a rare training opportunity for Tang San and the others."
"Your strength far exceeds this level. Even if you make a move, try to restrain yourself. Don't use the ten-thousand-year soul skill. Hide part of your strength and leave more room for them to perform."
Yu Xiaogang's words sounded dignified and righteous, but the selfish intent in his eyes could not be hidden.
"Heh."
Lin Qingmo laughed.
He really hadn't guessed wrong.
Shrugging, he repeated, "I already said it. I'm not interested in participating."
"You can fight it yourselves."
"This…"
Both Yu Xiaogang and Flender's expressions darkened, momentarily unable to step down from the situation.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Tang San stepped forward.
He raised his head and looked at Yu Xiaogang and Flender, his eyes full of confidence.
In a steady and powerful voice, he said, "Teacher, Dean, it's fine. If he doesn't want to participate, then let him be."
He turned to face everyone, a certain smile curling on his lips.
"Even without Lin Qingmo, we can still win this battle."
"What makes you so confident? Your rank 31 soul power?"
Dai Mubai showed his usual disdain toward Tang San.
Tang San shot him a cold glance.
Then his gaze fell on Dugu Yan in the dossier.
With considerable confidence, he said, "The control-type Soul Master of the Royal Fighting Team is a Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul user, relying on poison to control the battlefield."
"And when it comes to poison, I dare say no one understands it better than me."
"Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent poison poses no threat to us."
"As long as we can break her poison, it's equivalent to removing one opponent. As for the rest, we may not be without ways to deal with them."
As he spoke, Tang San's eyes unconsciously glanced at Xiao Wu beside him.
A stubborn determination surged within his heart.
This time, he had to show Xiao Wu that even without Lin Qingmo, he, Tang San, could still lead everyone to victory in this battle.
He could protect her as well!
Xiao Wu, however, curled her lips and muttered softly, "Easy for you to say. Ah Qing doesn't even need to bother breaking someone's poison to defeat them."
"…"
Tang San's face stiffened slightly, but he still forced himself to maintain his confidence and did not change his words.
"Xiao Wu, this is actually a kind of strategy."
Leaning against a pillar, Lin Qingmo watched Tang San's confident demeanor and couldn't help but smile, saying nothing.
He had almost forgotten.
Tang San was currently at the age where he was most hot-blooded and competitive.
But he knew clearly in his heart.
In the original story, the Shrek Seven Devils only narrowly defeated the Royal Fighting Team.
Half of it was because the Royal Fighting Team was overconfident.
The other half relied on Oscar's flying sausage, the martial soul fusion skill of Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, the Eight Spider Lances Tang San obtained after absorbing the Man-Faced Demon Spider soul ring, and his unexpected hidden weapon techniques.
Only by combining all these factors did they achieve that extreme comeback.
But the current Tang San had no Eight Spider Lances; Oscar had no flying sausage, and the relationship between Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai was so poor that they refused to use their martial soul fusion skill at all.
He really wanted to see what tricks Tang San could pull off this time.
…
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the sparse canopy of Shrek Academy, casting dappled shadows across the dirt training ground.
Even with the upcoming battle against the Royal Fighting Team, everyone's training did not stop.
The group had just finished a round of extreme physical training and hadn't even had time to wipe the sweat from their foreheads.
Then they saw Lin Qingmo slowly walk up to Zhu Zhuqing. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through the noisy training ground.
"Zhuqing, come with me to the back mountain."
Zhu Zhuqing was slightly stunned.
Those cat-like eyes, always covered with a layer of coldness, shrank slightly.
Then she simply nodded lightly without asking a single question.
She tightened the belt at her waist and silently followed behind Lin Qingmo toward the forest behind the training ground.
This scene instantly made Dai Mubai's eyes turn red.
His clenched fists turned pale at the knuckles, joints cracking faintly as his jaw tightened.
His tiger-like eyes locked onto their backs as they left, his chest heaving violently, as if he wanted to rush up immediately.
Ma Hongjun, seeing this, quickly reached out and grabbed his arm.
Lowering his voice, he persuaded, "Boss Dai, don't be impulsive! Don't be impulsive!"
"Lin Qingmo is clearly giving Sister Zhuqing some private training guidance. If you rush over, aren't you just asking for trouble? We can't beat him anyway…"
"Scram!"
Dai Mubai growled, violently shaking off his hand, teeth grinding audibly.
"Guidance? A lone man and woman heading into the woods together. What kind of guidance is that?!"
His heart burned with anger and urgency, mixed with an indescribable sense of helplessness.
More than anyone, he knew he was no match for Lin Qingmo.
What frustrated him even more was that Zhu Zhuqing's attitude toward Lin Qingmo had changed from initial distance and vigilance to complete trust.
She didn't even question him anymore.
It felt like countless needles were stabbing into his heart.
…
On the other side,
Ning Rongrong shook the fading phantom of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda behind her and tiptoed over to Xiao Wu, who was wiping sweat.
She nudged Xiao Wu lightly with her elbow.
"Xiao Wu, aren't you worried at all? Look, Ah Qing took Zhuqing alone to the back mountain. A lone man and woman… aren't you afraid something might happen?"
Her bright eyes blinked, her tone carrying undisguised curiosity and a hint of obvious envy.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu flicked her long braid that hung down to her waist.
Her face was full of natural certainty, even curving into a smile.
Her tone was extremely firm. "What's there to worry about? I know exactly what kind of person Ah Qing is."
"He's just giving Zhuqing some extra guidance. I don't mind at all, and I'm not worried either."
As she spoke, she glanced in the direction Lin Qingmo had left.
Her eyes were filled with complete, unreserved trust.
Not the slightest trace of jealousy or displeasure.
There was something she didn't say: even if Ah Qing did anything, she wouldn't mind at all.
As soon as those words fell—
Not far away, Tang San, who was drinking water, suddenly paused.
"!!!"
A mouthful of water nearly went down the wrong pipe.
He put down the cup.
The hand hanging at his side quietly clenched into a fist.
His previously calm expression instantly darkened, as if ink could drip from it.
He had originally thought that seeing Lin Qingmo act so "improperly," Xiao Wu, even if not jealous, would at least feel somewhat bothered.
After all, Lin Qingmo's excellence was obvious to everyone.
Not to mention being alone with a girl of the same age.
Anyone would inevitably feel some discomfort.
But he never expected Xiao Wu to trust him so completely, without even the slightest hesitation.
Tang San raised his eyes toward the back mountain, confusion surging within him.
What kind of charm did Lin Qingmo have to earn Xiao Wu's trust to such a degree?
To make someone as cold and proud as Zhu Zhuqing ignore others' opinions and willingly follow him into the back mountain.
Even Ning Rongrong's eyes were full of envy, wishing she were the one being called.
…
The forest on the back mountain was exceptionally quiet.
Only the rustling of wind through leaves could be heard, along with the occasional crisp chirp of birds.
Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, scattering in fragments across the two of them.
Lin Qingmo stopped and turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing behind him.
Zhu Zhuqing also stopped, slightly lowering her gaze.
Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes as her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.
Her usually cold face now carried a trace of barely noticeable nervousness, even her breathing becoming slightly lighter.
End of Chapter