Chapter 57: STAGE 2 : THE BATTLE DAY

Chapter 57 — “THE DAY THE WELL BROKE”

Murong Yuer did not speak immediately.

The balcony was quiet, overlooking the vast inner plaza of Dragon Turtle Academy. Spirit lanterns floated lazily in the air, their reflections trembling on polished stone. Below, laughter and music still drifted upward from the banquet hall, but here—there was space to breathe.

Long Hao leaned against the railing, posture relaxed but attentive.

Murong stood beside him, hands folded neatly in front of her.

“I realized how wrong I was”

“…I wasn’t always like this,” she said at last.

Long Hao did not interrupt.

“When I left my family,” Murong continued, voice steady but low, “I joined a frontier battle camp. Not an academy. Not a Big Guild.”

She smiled faintly, without humor.

“A real one.”

She turned her gaze outward, toward the distant mountains.

“There were no instructors who cared about bloodlines. No elders praising talent. Only results.”

She paused.

“I thought I was strong,” she admitted. “I thought being from the Murong family meant something everywhere.”

Her fingers tightened slightly.

“On my first day, I lost. Badly.”

Long Hao glanced at her.

“To someone younger than me,” Murong said. “From a small guild I’d never heard of. He didn’t even know who I was.”

She exhaled slowly.

“That was the first crack.”

She looked back at Long Hao then.

“Do you know what it’s like, to realize you’re a frog in a well?” she asked quietly.

Long Hao said nothing.

Murong continued.

“There were prodigies from great guilds. From independent academies. From military camps where children learned to kill before they learned to write.”

Her eyes darkened slightly.

“They didn’t care about reputation. Only survival.”

She clenched her fists.

“That’s where I understood how small my world had been. How narrow my pride was.”

Her voice softened.

“And how wrong I was… about you.”

Silence stretched between them.

Murong turned fully toward Long Hao and bowed—deeply.

“I insulted you when you were at your lowest,” she said. “Not because you were weak—but because I was afraid of being ordinary.”

Her bow held.

“I’m sorry, Long Hao.”

For a moment, the only sound was distant music and the faint wind brushing stone.

Long Hao straightened.

“You don’t owe me your past,” he said calmly. “And you don’t need to carry it for my sake.”

Murong looked up, surprised.

“You already paid for your arrogance,” Long Hao continued. “Life did that. I don’t need to.”

He met her eyes.

“I forgive you.”

Her breath caught.

“…Thank you.”

She straightened, regaining her composure.

Then, with a small, genuine smile—

“Tomorrow,” she said, “I won’t hold back.”

Long Hao smiled faintly.

“I’d be disappointed if you did.”

Murong nodded.

“Then, be ready to lose.”

Not mocking.

Not bitter.

Just honest competition.

Long Hao chuckled.

“We’ll see.”

They returned inside separately.

The night ended quietly.

BATTLE DAY — MORNING

The morning sun rose over Dragon Turtle Academy like a burning standard.

The central combat venue—Titan Shell Arena—was alive.

Massive stone stands carved in the likeness of ancient turtles rose in layered terraces. Banners of fifteen academies snapped in the wind. Spirit screens hovered above the arena floor, projecting team lineups, rankings, and sigils.

Announcers tested their voices.

Crowds poured in.

The air buzzed with anticipation.

This was no training match.

This was the Freshman Grand Prix — Stage Two.

A SMALL HOUSE, FAR AWAY

“Mom! MOM!”

A girl’s voice echoed through a modest street market.

“Come fast!” Long Hao’s sister shouted, tugging at their mother’s sleeve. “Big brother’s match is starting soon!”

Their mother stumbled slightly, wiping her hands.

“Slow down, slow down—”

“They’re showing the arena now!” the girl insisted, eyes shining. “He’s gonna be on screen again!”

The broadcast crystal flickered to life.

The arena appeared.

Their mother’s hand trembled slightly.

“…He looks taller,” she murmured.

Her daughter puffed her chest proudly.

“That’s my brother.”

BACK TO THE ARENA

A booming voice echoed across Titan Shell Arena.

“WELCOME—TO STAGE TWO OF THE FRESHMAN GRAND PRIX!”

Cheers erupted.

“Today, teams will engage in full-team battles. Victory will be determined by points accumulated through wins, ring-outs, and tactical dominance!”

The screen shifted.

“FIRST MATCH—!”

Two academies were announced.

Neither Azure Dragon.

Neither Frostcloud.

Two mid-ranked institutions stepped onto the arena floor.

The match began instantly.

The battle was brutal but decisive.

One academy favored raw power—charging head-on.

The other relied on formations and ranged suppression.

Within fifteen minutes—

The power-focused team collapsed.

Ring-outs followed.

Points tallied.

The announcer shouted the result.

“VICTORY—SKYFANG ACADEMY!”

Applause followed.

But attention shifted immediately.

Because everyone knew—

This was just the opening act.

The Azure Dragon team stood together at the preparation gate.

No one spoke.

Ling Yifan adjusted his gloves calmly.

Bai Qianlan watched the arena, expression composed.

Chen Wulian rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck.

“Tomorrow came fast,” he muttered.

Long Hao stood at the center.

Quiet.

Still.

Watching everything.

The announcer’s voice rose again.

“NEXT MATCH—!”

The arena screens flashed.

“AZURE DRAGON ACADEMY—”

Cheers erupted.

Long Hao’s sister nearly jumped off the floor at home.

“—VERSUS—!”

The name appeared.

“FROSTCLOUD IMPERIAL ACADEMY!”

The crowd roared louder.

Murong Yuer stepped forward with her team on the opposite side of the arena.

She looked toward Azure Dragon.

Toward Long Hao.

Their eyes met briefly.

No hostility.

No regret.

Only resolve.

The announcer’s voice thundered.

“PREPARE—FOR BATTLE!”

The gates began to open.

And for the first time—

They would meet again.

Not as past and present.

But as equals.

[Chapter ENDS]

SIDE MOMENT — “GOOD NIGHT, BAD TIMING”

The night air was cool.

Dragon Turtle Academy’s inner pathways were lit by low spirit lamps, their light soft enough to make even stone feel gentle. The banquet had ended an hour ago. Music had faded. Most students had already returned to their dorms.

Ling Yifan stood alone near the garden path.

In his hand—

A single red rose.

He stared at it for a few seconds longer than necessary.

“…This is stupid,” he muttered.

Still, he walked.

Bai Qianlan was just outside the girls’ dormitory, speaking quietly with Jin Roulan and Ouyang Xue’er. She turned when she heard footsteps.

Ling Yifan stopped in front of her.

“…Good night,” he said.

She blinked.

“…Good night?”

An awkward pause.

Then Ling Yifan cleared his throat and extended the rose.

“This is for—”

Bai looked at the flower.

Then at him.

Then crossed her arms.

“…Why are you giving that to me?”

Ling Yifan froze.

“…Because—”

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing just a little.

“Shouldn’t you give it to the girl you danced with?”

“What?” Ling Yifan said instantly. “No—”

“Oh,” Bai continued, voice perfectly calm, “actually, why just give her a rose?”

She smiled sweetly.

“Why not make her your girlfriend too?”

Ling Yifan’s brain shut down.

“…That’s not—”

Before he could finish—

“WOW.”

Chen Wulian’s voice cut in from the side.

He leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, enjoying this far too much.

“That escalated fast.”

Qin Shuo appeared beside him, nodding seriously.

“This is what we call,” he said solemnly, “entering the danger zone.”

Ling Yifan turned slowly.

“…You two were hiding.”

“Yes,” Chen replied proudly. “For moments exactly like this.”

Bai pointed at Ling Yifan.

“Explain.”

Ling Yifan panicked.

“I danced with her to stop her from approa-, I mean to show respect to both academies.” he said quickly. “That’s all.”

Chen raised an eyebrow.

“…Hey, that’s my job.”

Bai looked at Chen.

“…What?”

Chen shrugged.

“I mean, as the captain.”

Bai stared at Ling Yifan again.

“So you solved that by dancing with her.”

“…Yes.”

Jin Roulan stepped forward, hands on her hips.

Ling Yifan felt true fear for the first time that night.

“You,” Jin said sharply, “are officially terrible at being a boyfriend.”

“I’m not—” Ling Yifan stopped himself. “…I mean, I’m trying.”

“Trying?” Jin scoffed. “You brought a rose after making her jealous.”

“Sit down and apologise to her.”

Chen clapped once.

“POINT DEDUCTED.”

Ling Yifan sighed, defeated.

Without another word—

He knelt.

Right there.

On the stone path.

Bai blinked.

“…What are you doing?”

Ling Yifan held up the rose, eyes serious.

“I am bad at this,” he admitted. “But I wasn’t lying.”

“I didn’t want to dance with anyone else.”

“I just thought that was the right thing to do.”

Chen leaned over Qin’s shoulder.

“…I feel strangely respected.”

Bai looked down at Ling Yifan.

Her expression softened.

Just a little.

“…You’re an idiot,” she said quietly.

“Yes,” Ling Yifan agreed immediately.

Then—

A voice echoed from behind them.

“Hey.”

Everyone turned.

Han Duwei stepped out of the shadows.

One arm around a girl’s waist.

Another girl leaning against his shoulder.

Lipstick marks on both cheeks.

He grinned.

“…Anyone know where the dorms are?”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Chen stared.

Qin stared harder.

Jin covered her face.

Ouyang Xue’er sighed deeply.

“…Let’s just go home,” she said flatly.

Bai took the rose.

Ling Yifan looked up.

“…So?”

She turned away slightly, hiding her smile.

“…Good night.”

Han Duwei waved cheerfully.

“Night!”

Chen grabbed Qin by the collar.

“Nope. We’re done here.”

The group dispersed, the moment utterly ruined.

Ling Yifan remained kneeling for a second longer.

Then stood.

“…Next time,” he muttered, “I’ll bring two roses.”

From her window above—

Bai laughed softly.

[SIDE MOMENT ENDS]

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