LRAB Chapter 110 Strangers
Chapter 110 Strangers
In full view of everyone, she used all her strength, risking damage to her foundation, to bring down the person who had once looked down on her.
At that moment, her frozen obsession finally shattered, and along with the nightmares that had haunted her for years, it dissipated in the dust of the arena.
Does she still hate Xu Sanshi?
Perhaps. But it's no longer a deep-seated, gnawing hatred that gnaws at you day and night; it's a light, fleeting emotion that can be let go.
It's like putting down a burden you've been carrying for too long; your shoulders suddenly feel lighter.
Does she hate her weaker self even more?
No. The little girl who cried in despair by her mother's sickbed, the girl who gritted her teeth and signed the contract, the Soul Master who sweated profusely on the training ground—they were all Jiang Nannan.
They are the ones who have brought her to where she is today, to the point where she can stand tall and say, "I won on my own."
From now on, she will cultivate to become stronger and live for herself.
The warm sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on her face. Jiang Nannan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The air smells of grass and sunshine.
……
Xu Sanshi did not attend the victory celebration banquet.
He was alone in his dormitory, with the lights off. The last rays of the setting sun slanted in through the window, dividing the room into two halves of light and shadow.
He sat in the shadows, watching the dust particles floating in the light.
Memories surged uncontrollably.
I first met Jiang Nannan at a clinic in Tiandou City.
The girl knelt before the hospital bed, holding her mother's withered hand, her shoulders so thin they seemed about to break.
He stood outside the door, clutching his money pouch, but his mind was filled with thoughts of the family's sordid deals.
Later, she came to repay the money, saving it up bit by bit in the most painstaking way.
Looking into those stubborn eyes, he suddenly felt a pang of pain in a certain part of his heart.
He wanted to say "you don't need to pay me back" and "I'm sorry," but what came out of his mouth were even more hurtful words.
Later, like a clumsy actor, he pursued and harassed her in a self-righteous manner.
He thought that as long as he was persistent enough, he could make up for it and make her forget that unbearable beginning.
Even today, on the ring, she threw him to the ground in such a brutal manner.
The sound of the Xuanming Tortoise Shell Shield shattering overlapped with the sound of something inside him breaking.
He lay on the cold stone slab, watching her burn her soul rings, watching her collapse with her last bit of strength, and suddenly he understood.
He never understood her.
What he gave her was never what she wanted. What he clung to was only a self-indulgent attempt at redemption.
Xu Sanshi raised his hand to cover his face and chuckled softly, the sound sounding particularly harsh in the empty room.
Does he really love Jiang Nannan?
Perhaps there was a spark of attraction. But more than that, there was guilt, self-comfort, and an attempt to use "love" to gloss over that sordid transaction.
Every time he appeared before her, every time he feigned deep affection and called out to her, he was tearing open the wounds in her heart that had never healed.
He regretted it.
It wasn't that she regretted the deal—without that money, her mother might not have made it through.
What he regretted was the subsequent entanglement, his self-righteous "atonement," and dragging their relationship into an even deeper quagmire.
If only time could turn back...
No, there are no "ifs".
He should either not have touched her in the first place, or he should have disappeared completely after the transaction was over, so that they would be even.
This situation is torture for both of them.
The gap between him and Jiang Nannan was not a battle or a loss, but an insurmountable chasm.
From now on, let's be like strangers; that's best for each other.
Xu Sanshi stood up and walked to the window.
The sun had completely set, leaving only a faint crimson glow on the horizon.
Laughter could be faintly heard coming from the direction of the training ground; it was the lively celebration banquet, the birth of the new Shrek Seven Devils, and a brand new beginning.
And it's time for him to leave the stage.
"Jiang Nannan," he whispered into the deepening night, "goodbye."
There was no goodbye.
It means never seeing each other again.
……
The day after the selection competition, Xuanzi summoned the old and new generations of Shrek Seven Devils to the training ground in the Soul Fighting Zone.
Once everyone had arrived, Xuanzi announced loudly: "Today's lesson—seven-on-seven practical combat! A martial arts tournament combining the seven monsters of the modern and the next generation!"
"First, let's get to know your successors."
"Beibei, level 48, offensive type."
After the treasure appreciation event, Beibei made a request to Xuanzu Mu'en, who promised to give him the golden left arm bone of the Earth Dragon King if he passed the selection competition.
After the celebration banquet, Beibei absorbed it as she wished.
"He Caitou, level 43 food-type, level 4 soul master."
"Tang Ya, Level 42, Control System".
"Ning Tian, second year, level 41, support system."
"Wu Feng, second year, level 32 offensive type."
"Xiao Xiao, second year, 32nd level, Control Engineering Department."
"Huo Yutong, second year, level 42, Control Engineering Department."
Upon hearing this, the Seven Devils, led by Ma Xiaotao, were deeply moved—they were only in their second year, yet two of them had already reached the Soul Venerable realm!
"Now that the introductions of the junior students are complete, it's your turn," Xuanzi said.
"Ma Xiaotao, level 70 offensive type."
After undergoing the divine test, her soul power became increasingly refined, causing Bei Bei and the others to gasp in surprise.
Ma Xiaotao did not immediately acquire a spirit ring for two reasons: first, she already possessed a spirit ring bestowed by the gods; second, she feared that her evil fire would go out of control while absorbing the spirit ring, preventing her from participating in the competition.
"Dai Yueheng, level 68, offensive type."
Dai Yueheng sighed inwardly, realizing that even though they were both Divine Examiners, the gap between him and Ma Xiaotao was still obvious.
On the field, Huo Yutong's gaze was fixed on him, and she unconsciously clenched her fists.
"Ling Luohuan, level 58, Control System."
Recently, the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy completed a resource transaction from the far north and the Demon Forest, in which Ling Luohuan obtained a 60,000-year-old Ice Bear Clan left arm bone.
On the day she received it, she laughed heartily for a long time in her room while looking at the soul bone.
"Gongyang Mo, level 59, support class."
"Chen Zifeng, level 56, offensive type."
"Yao Haoxuan, level 55, offensive type."
"XiXi, level 55, agility-based attacker."
After the introductions were completed, Xuanzi instructed the strongest members of both sides to select their teammates and form teams.
Ma Xiaotao's team: Gongyang Mo, Xixi, Beibei, Huo Yutong, Xiaoxiao, Wufeng.
Dai Yueheng's team: Ling Luohuan, Chen Zifeng, Yao Haoxuan, He Caitou, Tang Ya, Ning Tian.
At Xuanzi's command, a chaotic battle broke out.
Huo Yutong instantly activated his mental detection and mental sharing. Ma Xiaotao, Gongyang Mo, and Xixi were all taken aback, and then their eyes lit up with surprise—this was a true divine skill!
He Caitou aimed the soul-guided cannon at Huo Yutong without hesitation, but Xiao Xiao stopped him in time.
They knew all too well how terrifying Huo Yutong's support was in team fights.
Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Bei Bei and Wu Feng, and Yao Haoxuan took the opportunity to rush forward.
Gongyang Mo's martial spirit lit up, and the light of support enveloped the entire field; on the other side, Ning Tian's Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda shone with dazzling brilliance, causing Ma Xiaotao and the others to feel a chill.
Ling Luohuan unleashed a wide-range freezing attack with his staff, while Dai Yueheng charged straight at Ma Xiaotao.
However, the ice suddenly vanished the next second—no, it broke free from Ling Luohuan's control.
The ultimate ice, the aura of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion faintly wafted through the air.
Ling Luohuan froze, completely overwhelmed. Xi Xi attacked like a shadow, leaving her no choice but to hastily defend herself.
Chen Zifeng attempted to turn and attack Huo Yutong, but was forced back by a long-range attack from Ma Xiaotao—she was able to distract others even while fiercely fighting Dai Yueheng.
The fierce battle subsided, and the outcome was decided.
Ma Xiaotao's team wins.