Chapter 2: A Duel Like the Closest of Lovers
The boy’s thoughts were written all over his face, Zhuang He noted silently, though his own expression remained as calm as a gentle breeze.
If the kid knew that he had estimated his strength and then intentionally performed just slightly better, he wondered what his reaction would be.
But in front of Lu Yin, Zhuang He kept a cold face as he moved to the next piece of equipment.
Lu Yin followed behind him. From his height, he could see Zhuang He’s flat and upright back. However, just below that slender waist, those rounded buttocks swayed with every step, and for a moment, he actually lost himself in the sight.
Whether it was upper limb, lower limb, or endurance tests, Zhuang He consistently stayed a small but clear distance ahead of Lu Yin.
Lu Yin gained a completely new understanding of Zhuang He, but he was still somewhat unconvinced. This Guide was only a little stronger than him. He was just a freshman now; after training for a while, he wouldn’t necessarily be inferior.
His emotions were displayed plainly on his face. Zhuang He merely gave him a cool glance and walked toward the combat pod.
“Final item.”
Lu Yin hurried to catch up, looking at the capsule-like pod with curiosity.
“Combat pod. Lying inside allows for a simulated arena duel. Your real body won’t be injured or killed.”
Zhuang He pointed to the introductory strip on the side for Lu Yin to read, then was the first to lie inside.
Seeing Zhuang He lie down, Lu Yin followed suit. He was very confident in his fighting skills. He believed that someone like him, who had fought his way up from the bottom, wouldn’t necessarily be worse than Zhuang Heāespecially since this man didn’t look like he had much explosive power.
The combat pods closed. The screens beside them displayed their information. Inside the pods, the scenery shifted, and they suddenly found themselves on a virtual fighting stage.
This arena was created based on Ancient Earth, aiming to mimic the heated atmosphere of combat back then. At this moment, many figures with blurred faces were gathered around the stage, cheering for them.
Zhuang He loosened the muscles in his hands and looked at the man opposite him.
Lu Yin was very tall and sturdy. If they fought in close quarters, Zhuang He could win, but it would be more taxing. In this situation, maintaining a certain distance was the most correct choice.
The light in his eyes dimmed as he struck first. Before Lu Yin could react, he saw a figure rushing toward him, followed by a fierce fist.
Lu Yin immediately turned to dodge, reaching out to catch the fist. He tried to flip the other man over with force but failed to bring him down.
Zhuang He used Lu Yin’s own strength to flip himself into mid-air. His other hand also grabbed Lu Yin’s arm. With his legs together, he kicked straight toward Lu Yin’s chest.
Lu Yin, who usually won by brute force, hadn’t expected this move. He was caught off guard and taken head-on. However, his lower body was very stable; he only retreated a few steps, and his grip loosened.
Zhuang He pressed his advantage, leaping nimbly in front of Lu Yin again. This time, Lu Yin was prepared. He gradually parried Zhuang He’s attacks, his tiger-like eyes fixed intently on Zhuang He, memorizing every move.
The two were entangled for a long time. Zhuang He didn’t use any killing moves, and Lu Yin’s defense was overly thorough. The fight was actually quite deadlocked.
At that moment, Lu Yin’s eyes sharpened. He saw a flaw in Zhuang He’s movement.
Lu Yin struck suddenly, one hand pinning Zhuang He’s arms while the other reached for his waist, intending to flip him directly to the ground.
But just as he closed in on Zhuang He, he saw the slight upward curve of the other’s lips. He immediately sensed something was wrong, but the move was already executed and couldn’t be retracted.
Zhuang He’s arms were caught, but his long legs nimbly kicked up against Lu Yin’s chest. His legs formed a scissor-lock around Lu Yin’s neck, and then he twisted with forceā
Lu Yin crashed to the ground like a collapsing mountain.
Zhuang He’s legs were still locked around his neck. Although pain wasn’t felt in the virtual arena, one could still smell scents.
He didn’t know if it was Zhuang He’s natural body scent or a habit of wearing perfume, but during the duel, Lu Yin had caught a faint fragrance. Now, because of their position, the scent became much more intense.
His cheek was pressed tightly against warm, soft thigh muscle. Although the grip around his neck was tight, he could tell it was significantly restrained.
The phantom fragrance drifted into Lu Yin’s nose, causing him to daze for a moment.
The victor was decided. Zhuang He released his legs and stood up. He stepped his military-boot-clad foot onto the chest of Lu Yin, who was still lying on the ground, looking down at him. “Do you submit?”
So his little bit of defiance had been seen through by this person all along…
He should have been ashamed and angry, but Lu Yin felt a strange sensation rising in his heart. He felt… a sense of longing for that warm touch just now.
His gaze drifted to the military boot stepping on his chest. The boot was very hard; if Zhuang He used force, he could crush his ribcage, but Zhuang He didn’t.
the boot perfectly wrapped around the beautiful curve of the calf below the knee. Lu Yin felt his heart beating very fast.
He lay on his back, his eyes fixed on Zhuang He as if he wanted to peel him and swallow him whole. Zhuang He loathed that gaze and immediately retracted his leg, preparing to leave the virtual arena.
Lu Yin just watched his retreating figureāthat broad, upright back and the soft, rounded buttocks. Hidden within was warm, soft flesh that, when pressed against his cheek, felt like the closest of lovers.
The figure flickered a few times and then disappeared from the field. Lu Yin also raised his hand and tapped a few times, likewise turning into points of light and vanishing.
Exiting the combat pod, Zhuang He seemed to be in a good mood. He rubbed his wrists and uncharacteristically spoke a few more words.
“Your talent is good, but the battlefield isn’t a place where you can win with those petty tricks of yours.”
Lu Yin sat behind him without a word. Zhuang He looked back at him strangely, thinking his confidence had been shattered by the loss, and didn’t pay it much more mind.
“What is your spiritual body? A white tiger?”
Recalling the files he saw yesterday, Zhuang He had a general idea. This person’s moves were very similar to his spiritual bodyāa brutish, wild creature that only knew how to charge.
Lu Yin slowly raised his head, his gaze toward Zhuang He somewhat complex. Hearing the question, he nodded, and a massive white tiger appeared beside him.
Zhuang He looked at the majestic white tiger and released his own spiritual body as well.
The fire phoenix spread its wings and hovered in the air, its gaze toward the white tiger incredibly fierce.
The white tiger seemed provoked and let out a roar. Zhuang He felt the hair by his ears blown back and smoothed his silver hair in annoyance.
On the surface, he just coldly tied his hair back, but Lu Yin, watching his movements, strangely sensed thatāZhuang He was unhappy.
He reached out and patted the roaring white tiger, which instantly turned into a docile kitten, crouching at Lu Yin’s feet.
The phoenix circled a few times, found it boring, flew over to the white tiger’s head to pluck a tuft of fur, then flew back to perch on Zhuang He’s shoulder, preening its beautiful feathers.
The white tiger didn’t feel a thing being plucked, but Zhuang He gave the phoenix a light pinch as punishment.
“Attend the academy’s scheduled classes normally with the other students. If there are special training arrangements, I will contact you.”
Perhaps because Lu Yin’s talent was indeed excellent, Zhuang He had more patience with him than with others.
Lu Yin nodded to show he understood and watched as Zhuang He turned to leave without a trace of lingering.
His gaze held a hint of obsession he didn’t even realize, watching that seemingly frail yet incredibly powerful body walk away.
A faint, residual fragrance still drifted to his nose… His cheek seemed to still feel the warmth through the fabric. This seemingly cold and hard Guide actually had quite soft inner thighs.
After returning home, Zhuang He pulled up Lu Yin’s fitness test results and designed a specialized training plan based on his physical condition.
He had a feeling that Lu Yin’s combat skills would improve very quickly and he would likely be able to enter the battlefield before long.
While Zhuang He was pondering, Lu Yin knew nothing of it. Although he was an SSS-grade Sentinel, he was still assigned to a dormitory like a normal student, so he had three roommates.
When he returned to the dorm and pushed open the door, his three roommates were sitting on the living room sofa, turning their heads in unison to look at him.
“…What is it?”
Lu Yin reflexively touched his face. Zhuang He hadn’t hit his face earlier, had he?
“I heard you were placed under Chief Zhuang. I thought you’d be moving out.”
Roommate Liang Tong said with interest. Beside him, Hua Huijiang agreed, “Even though the Chief is a Guide, he’s the Empire’s superstar. When are you moving out?”
The remaining roommate remained silent, just staring at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was somewhat speechless. They had moved in a few days early and gotten to know each other. Why did it feel like they were all trying to push him out?
“I’m not. I’m staying. Why bother with those messy privileges? I’m going to class with you guys.”
Liang Tong and Hua Huijiang were delighted to hear he wasn’t moving and began to celebrate. However, Qi He, who had been very active in previous days, was uncharacteristically quiet.
Lu Yin noticed the anomaly, walked over to him, and asked with concern, “Are you okay?”
Qi He looked up at him, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness he didn’t notice himself. “Did you duel with the Chief?”
“Yeah. He’s my teacher; of course he had to test my fitness.”
Lu Yin was completely confused. He sensed a subtle hostility from Qi He but didn’t understand why.
Qi He just said “Oh” and didn’t speak again, though his eyes scanned Lu Yin like a damp, slithering snake.
Since the other didn’t want to talk, Lu Yin didn’t bother and prepared to go out for dinner with the other two.
On the way to the canteen, Liang Tong and Hua Huijiang seemed to have something to say, but they looked at each other and said nothing.
Lu Yin felt his roommates were each stranger than the last. He nudged Liang Tong and asked, “What are you two making eyes at each other for?”
“Who’s making eyes? Watch your mouth.”
Liang Tong rolled his eyes at him, then looked at Hua Huijiang, his tone a bit cautious. “Actually… we probably know why Qi He is being so weird today.”
“Hmm? Why? Does he have a problem with me?”
Lu Yin joked, but saw the two shake their heads.
“It’s not because of you. It’s because of Chief Zhuang.”
“?”
Lu Yin was even more baffled. Why? Because he was accepted as Zhuang He’s student? Does he like Zhuang He?
“Since you were measured as SSS-grade, everyone has been saying you’d definitely be taken in by Chief Zhuang.”
Liang Tong sighed and said, “But Qi He… he doesn’t seem to like Chief Zhuang.”
“He doesn’t like the Chief? Why?”
Lu Yin was truly bewildered. Was there something wrong with this Qi He? Zhuang He was beautiful and powerful; who wouldn’t like him?
“Sigh…”
Talking as they went, the three arrived at the canteen. The academy’s canteen was massive, divided into three floors. The first floor was for breakfast and desserts, the second for main meals, and the third was for teachers. It was open twenty-four hours a day; as long as there were credits in your light-brain, you could eat.
They arrived at noon and went straight to the second floor. Just after they bought their food and sat down, Lu Yin heard whispering behind him.
“That’s him, right? The SSS-grade Sentinel.”
“I heard he was taken in by Chief Zhuang.”
“Tsk, who knows why that Guide took him in? Maybe…”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Everyone knows the Chief’s strength.”
“So what? He’s still a Guide. He always needs a Sentinel to…”
The words that followed were quite foul. Lu Yin frowned, not wanting to pay them any mind, but then a Sentinel he had met during the spiritual power test walked over with his tray. He sat down and asked Lu Yin, “You were taken in by Chief Zhuang?”
Lu Yin nodded. The other man gave a disdainful, lewd smile. “Then you’d better be careful. That Guide hasn’t had a Sentinel by his side for so many years. Maybe he’s just lacking an SSS-grade like you to fā”
Before he could finish, his head was slammed directly into his food tray. Liang Tong and Hua Huijiang watched Lu Yin’s sudden rage, but they both moved their trays further away. They couldn’t stand to listen to such filth either.
The commotion instantly silenced the entire canteen. Everyone turned to look at them.
The Sentinel who had been slammed down stood up furiously, wanting to hit Lu Yin, while shouting more insults.
“Fuck! You’re actually protecting a slut like that?!”
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