Chapter 67: PUBLIC GLORY, PRIVATE MADNESS

Chapter 67 — “PUBLIC GLORY, PRIVATE MADNESS”

The arena didn’t calm down after the battle.

It failed to calm down.

The noise lingered like heat after a fire. Even after the barriers lowered and the healers finished clearing the field, the stands were still buzzing. People argued. People cheered. People replayed moments in their heads, louder than they had actually been.

At the center platform, the three deans stood together.

And the contrast between them was impossible to miss.

The Azure Dragon Academy Dean stood straight, hands folded behind his back, expression calm and unreadable. His presence alone pressed down on the area, subtle but firm, like gravity that didn’t need to announce itself.

To his left, the Vermilion Phoenix Academy Dean adjusted her sleeve with elegance, golden-orange hair catching the light. She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that hid disappointment behind grace.

To the right—

The Dragon Turtle Academy Dean bounced on his heels.

Literally.

He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, flexed his arms once, twice, clearly enjoying the attention.

Someone in the audience muttered, “Why does he look like he wants to fight the sky?”

The Vermilion dean sighed quietly.

“Must you do that every time?” she asked.

The Dragon Turtle dean grinned. “Keeps the blood flowing.”

The Azure Dragon dean spoke, voice level.

“This is an awards ceremony. Not a warm-up.”

“Tch,” the Dragon Turtle dean replied. “Missed opportunity.”

The platform rose higher, amplifying their presence. The noise gradually faded, replaced by anticipation.

The Dragon Turtle dean stepped forward first, cupping his hands around his mouth like a showman.

“ALRIGHT!” he boomed. “LISTEN UP!”

The last echoes died.

“Stage Two of the Freshman Grand Prix is officially concluded.”

A ripple of tension passed through the crowd.

He grinned wider.

“And yes, yes, before anyone asks—no, I don’t regret turning it into a team battle. That was way more fun.”

The Vermilion dean clicked her tongue.

“You mean chaotic.”

“Same thing.”

A few laughs rippled through the stands.

The Dragon Turtle dean continued, waving one massive hand.

“Now, based on overall performance, team coordination, combat efficiency, and strategic adaptability, the instructors and observers from all academies have reached a consensus.”

He paused.

Just long enough to be annoying.

“Final rankings for Stage Two are as follows.”

The projection behind them flared to life.

FINAL STAGE TWO RANKINGS

RANK 1 — AZURE DRAGON ACADEMY

For half a second—

Nothing happened.

Then the stands exploded.

Cheers crashed like waves. Banners ignited with spiritual light. Even neutral academies reacted, some with admiration, some with disbelief.

On Azure Dragon’s side, there was a moment of stunned silence.

Then Chen Wulian laughed.

“…We actually did it.”

Bai Qianlan covered her mouth, eyes bright.

Ling Yifan didn’t react outwardly, but his grip on his spear tightened just a little.

Ouyang Xue’er exhaled slowly.

“Rank one,” she murmured.

Long Hao didn’t smile.

But his eyes softened.

RANK 2 — VERMILION PHOENIX ACADEMY

The Vermilion side responded with controlled applause.

Rong Yueran folded her arms, unimpressed.

“Second?” she muttered. “After all that?”

The Vermilion dean leaned toward the Azure Dragon dean, smiling faintly.

“Fair judgment,” she said. “Even if it stings.”

The Azure Dragon dean inclined his head slightly.

“Strength isn’t diminished by acknowledging another’s.”

Rong glanced over, then smirked.

“…We’ll see next stage.”

RANK 3 — CRIMSON SABER IMPERIAL ACADEMY

RANK 4 — THUNDERCRASH BATTLE ACADEMY

RANK 5 — SHADOWVEIL SPIRIT ACADEMY

RANK 6 — SILVERMOON ARROW SCHOOL

RANK 7 —FROSTCLOUD ACADEMY

The Dragon Turtle dean clapped loudly.

“There you have it! These seven academies advance to the final stage!”

He turned back to the crowd.

“And trust me—Stage Three is where things get serious.”

The Vermilion dean raised an eyebrow.

“They weren’t already?”

He laughed.

“Not even close.”

CAMERAS OFF

The moment the ceremony ended, everything changed.

The platform descended. The crowd noise dulled. Barriers separated teams.

The public image dissolved instantly.

Azure Dragon retreated to their reserved hall.

The door closed.

Silence.

Then—

Chen Wulian turned slowly.

“…So.”

Everyone looked at him.

Rong Yueran appeared beside him, draping an arm over his shoulder like she owned him.

“Congratulations,” she said cheerfully. “Rank one.”

Bai stared.

Ouyang stared harder.

Ling Yifan pinched the bridge of his nose.

Long Hao spoke first.

“…You didn’t tell them.”

Chen winced.

“I was going to.”

“You weren’t,” Bai said flatly.

Rong laughed.

“This is my fault,” she admitted. “I told him not to stress the team.”

Ling Yifan looked directly at Chen.

“You let us think you were compromised.”

Chen raised both hands defensively.

“I never lied!”

“You omitted,” Ling Yifan replied calmly.

Rong tilted her head.

“He hesitated because he didn’t want to fight me seriously.”

Bai blinked.

“…That’s it?”

“That’s it,” Rong said.

Ouyang stared at Chen.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Chen scratched his cheek.

“…Worth it?”

Ouyang glared.

Bai suddenly laughed.

Not softly.

Loudly.

She pointed at Chen.

“All that tension. All that suspicion.”

She shook her head.

“…Over romance.”

Ling Yifan exhaled.

“…I feel ridiculous.”

Long Hao leaned against the wall.

“At least it wasn’t betrayal,” he said quietly.

Rong smiled at him.

“Not this time.”

The joint celebration wasn’t planned.

That was the funny part.

It started as Dragon Turtle Academy doing what it always did best: overdoing things. Someone opened the wrong hall. Someone else decided it was pointless to keep it “academy-only.” Ten minutes later, Vermilion Phoenix students were walking in like they’d been invited all along.

No one stopped them.

The hall itself was ridiculous.

Stone pillars carved like ancient beasts, banners hanging from the ceiling, long tables already filling with food that looked far too expensive for students. Music hummed softly in the background, nothing ceremonial, just enough to keep things loose.

Chen Wulian took one look around and whistled.

“…Yeah, this feels illegal.”

Rong Yueran squeezed his arm.

“Relax. If anyone asks, say I dragged you.”

“I’d believe that,” Bai said dryly.

Dragon Turtle students were already laughing loudly, clapping each other on the back, some of them flexing for absolutely no reason. The Dragon Turtle dean was nowhere in sight, which everyone took as a blessing.

Vermilion Phoenix students entered with more composure, but even that cracked quickly once drinks appeared.

Someone turned the music up.

Someone else cheered.

That was all it took.

Ling Yifan stood near the edge of the hall at first, drink untouched, posture straight out of habit. He was observing more than participating.

Which made him an immediate target.

A Vermilion student leaned over to her friend and whispered something.

Then another.

Then three of them approached.

“Excuse me,” one said politely. “You’re the Spear Saint, right?”

Ling Yifan nodded once.

“Would you like to dance?”

Bai Qianlan, who had been laughing with Ouyang two steps away, froze mid-sentence.

Ling Yifan answered without hesitation.

“No.”

The girl blinked.

“…Oh.”

He added, calmly, “I’m taken.”

Bai turned red so fast Ouyang actually laughed.

The Vermilion girls exchanged looks, then laughed it off.

“Fair enough,” one said. “Worth a try.”

They walked away, still giggling.

Bai crossed her arms.

“…Hmph.”

Chen noticed immediately.

“Oh?” he said loudly. “What’s that sound? Is that jealousy?”

“I am not jealous,” Bai snapped.

Rong leaned in, eyes sparkling.

“She’s jealous.”

“I am not—!”

Before Bai could finish, Ling Yifan glanced toward Vermilion’s side.

And saw Rong Yueran walking toward Chen.

Purposefully.

Bai followed his gaze.

Her expression darkened.

Ling Yifan sighed quietly.

“…Excuse me.”

At the drinks table, Han Duwei was in his element.

Two girls stood close to him, laughing at something he’d said. One rested a hand on his arm. The other leaned in far too comfortably.

Qin Shuo stood nearby, holding a cup, watching in quiet disbelief.

“…Why does that happen always?”

Long Hao sipped his drink.

“He talks like a human being.”

Qin frowned.

“I do that.”

Han Duwei laughed loudly, throwing an arm around both girls’ shoulders.

“Hey, you two are from Silvermoon, right?”

They nodded eagerly.

Qin stared.

“…I asked that ten minutes ago.”

Ouyang passed by, glanced once, and shook her head.

“Tragic.”

Jin Roulan smirked.

“Give up, Qin.”

Han Duwei turned, noticed Qin staring, and gave him a thumbs-up.

Qin looked away.

“…I hate him.”

Eventually, the music slowed.

People spread out.

The tension softened.

Ling Yifan returned, calm as ever.

Bai stared at him.

“…Did you enjoy that?”

He considered it.

“No.” without knowing what was his fault.

She sighed.

“…You’re terrible at this.”

“Improving,” he replied.

Rong leaned against Chen again.

“Your friends are fun.”

Chen groaned.

“You enjoy chaos.”

She smiled.

“Very much.”

Long Hao stood a little apart, watching the scene unfold. Ouyang joined him again, holding a drink.

“…Strange night,” she said.

“Yes.”

She glanced at the room, then back at him.

“…But a good one.”

He nodded.

Across the hall, laughter echoed.

Two academies, rivals hours ago, now sharing food, jokes, and exhausted smiles.

Tomorrow would bring pressure again.

But tonight—

Tonight belonged to them.

Someone opened a crate of drinks.

Someone else dragged chairs into a circle.

The mood flipped instantly.

Chen was shoved into the center.

Bai crossed her arms.

“So,” she said sweetly. “When were you planning to mention the fiancée?”

Rong answered for him.

“Right after the match.”

Chen groaned.

Ling Yifan shook his head.

“…You’re lucky we won.”

Rong grinned.

“That’s why I let you.”

Chen shouted, “YOU DID NOT—”

Bai and Ouyang laughed.

Long Hao watched the scene quietly, then felt someone nudge his arm.

Ouyang stood beside him.

“…Rank one,” she said.

“Yes,” he replied.

She hesitated, then added, “…Good job.”

He met her eyes.

“You too.”

She looked away first.

Chen suddenly clapped loudly.

“HEY!”

Everyone looked at him.

“We survived. We won. And nobody betrayed anyone.”

He grinned.

“I call that a successful day.”

Rong raised her glass.

“To misunderstandings.”

Bai added, “And clearing them up.”

Ling Yifan paused, then lifted his own glass.

“…And to the next stage.”

Long Hao nodded.

“Stage Three.”

Outside, the academy lights burned bright.

Inside, Azure Dragon laughed.

And for the first time since the tournament began—

Victory didn’t feel heavy.

It felt earned.

[Chapter ENDS]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep