Chapter 23

Topic: SOS Xiangxiang!!!!

Content: Does anyone know what method Chun 19 used to snatch Xiangxiang from You 7's hands? I want one too 55555[frantic][frantic] Or is it some treasure to trade with You 7? As long as I have it, I can do it too!

1L: Came in for the title. I heard about it too—can't believe it, can't believe it. You Qi looks so food-possessive.

2L: Right? Anyone who sees how food-possessive he is wants to complain. He even has to hold Zhou Mu close to keep sniffing him. I secretly took photos, and friends from other schools said what a loving couple. I laughed out loud right then. You want this kind of 'loving'?

3L: Hahaha it does look kind of like a couple, but if it were me, I'd probably hold him every day too, inhaling deeply!

4L: emmmm actually I have a different view from you all. I feel like You Qi is kind of like... raising a pet.

5L: Raising a pet in the dorm—so perverted, I love it, hehehehe

6L: Oh, so now there's a new owner too. So jealous. If Chun Shijiu can do it, so can I. I can't beat You Qi, but can't I beat Chun Shijiu? Wait for it—once the Sports Meet ends I'm going to Chun Shijiu's dorm to steal him.

7L: I'm afraid you won't be able to wait. I heard neither Zhou Mu nor You Qi plan to withdraw. Plus, athletes from other schools have recently heard how fragrant Zhou Mu is. Chun Shijiu isn't competing either, so once the match starts, if You Qi doesn't cover Zhou Mu, Xiangxiang is done for [lighting a candle]

8L: Nooo—

.

A total of fifty teams participated in the Team Combat Match. In the first round of the Selection Contest, teams would draw lots to be divided into groups, with ten teams per group fighting in a melee to compete for the victory flag, selecting the top three.

The resulting fifteen teams will then compete in the second round, five teams per group, with the winners of the three groups competing for Champion, runner-up, and third place.

Both the first and second rounds will be held consecutively on the same day, with little preparation time for either. The lottery is also drawn right before the match on-site—the point is to see how contestants respond with no preparation.

The most anticipated Champion match will be held three days later. Only at this stage are contestants given some time to rest and study their opponents, and the audience more time to place bets and discuss.

Now, with the first round of the Selection Contest imminent, Hualing's seeded contestants are rumored to have internal team discord, drawing the attention of the entire school. Everyone wants to know what will happen on the field.

The other three team members—Yan Xingke, Xu Tianyi, and Gui Youqi—each had their private guesses. They all felt that since Zhou Mu wasn't withdrawing and looked calm as ever every day, maybe things weren't that strained with You Qi?

But on the day of the match, they realized You Qi and Zhou Mu were truly like strangers, not exchanging a single word!

The two didn't even arrive together. You Qi came alone; Zhou Mu was accompanied by Chun Shijiu.

Chun Shijiu had even brought Zhou Mu's lunchbox, water bottle, towel, and other miscellaneous items. Compared to You Qi's previous care for Zhou Mu, this was even more thorough.

Except for one difference: Chun Shijiu didn't carry Zhou Mu around the way You Qi used to.

Gui Youqi's heart raced as he watched. He asked Zhou Mu with false concern: 'Are you and You Qi still fighting?'

Chun Shijiu cursed: 'None of your damn business!'

Gui Youqi glared at him hatefully, cursing him in his heart.

You Qi, on the other side, took off his jacket and pinned on his group number bib. It was this removal that caught Zhou Mu's attention—he noticed You Qi was still wearing the white shirt he'd given him. Zhou Mu couldn't help but stare.

You Qi also sensed his gaze and suddenly realized this point himself. For a moment he felt only embarrassment and grievance. Zhou Mu clearly treated him as backup food, yet he had still carefully maintained the shirt Zhou Mu gave him, wearing it every day.

Both fell into an inexplicable silence.

Chun Shijiu, numbly doing his duties, opened the lunchbox and handed it over: 'Some nutrition before the match?'

Zhou Mu instantly forgot he was in a deep staring contest with You Qi and happily took the lunchbox to eat. This Chun Shijiu—after that lesson, he's much more sensible.

You Qi: '...'

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Seeing Zhou Mu get along so well with his new roommate, You Qi laughed from sheer anger. He grabbed his jacket and walked away, unwilling to watch that despicable Chun Shijiu currying favor.

What's that supposed to mean? Is it wrong for me to eat? I haven't even eaten you! Why the dramatic exit?

Zhou Mu stuffed another big mouthful of food, puzzled and annoyed.

Everyone had arrived. With the match about to start, Gongzi Cong also came. He was going to have everyone draw lots and fill out informed consent forms.

When handing the document to You Qi, Gongzi Cong looked at him with a complicated expression the entire time.

You Qi glanced through it, signed, handed the document back, and said coldly: 'Keep looking at me like that and I'll send you to see Duke Huan of Qi.'

Gongzi Cong had witnessed him and Zhou Mu's fight, and had known Zhou Mu since middle school. Now that he thought about it, Gongzi Cong had probably been watching him make a fool of himself all along.

Gongzi Cong: '...'

Gongzi Cong said, exasperated: 'Is this mockery?'

He found it funny. He carefully glanced at Zhou Mu nearby, being served food by Chun Shijiu, and seeing that Zhou Mu didn't seem to notice this side, said quietly: 'I'd love to have the right to mock you. But if it were me, having said any of the things you've said to Zhou Mu or done any of the things you've done, I'd have gone to see Xiao Bai long ago! You don't know what kind of person Zhou Mu is!'

The Xiao Bai he mentioned was also Duke Huan of Qi, whose real name was Jiang Xiaobai.

Gongzi Cong really couldn't hold back any longer, which was why he said these words.

He'd known Zhou Mu for many years. Back in his hometown, Zhou Mu was young, in that phase of being immature but growing, and was utterly wild. At Hualing it might look like school rules kept him in check, but just seeing how mercilessly he beat Xie Rulin should tell you his nature hasn't changed.

And yet this Zhou Mu had actually tolerated You Qi's audacity. He'd even shared a bit of food with You Qi before, which had scared Gongzi Cong half to death. Maybe he'd just been bullied into accepting it, but Gongzi Cong really wanted to say: You Qi doesn't know how good he has it.

You Qi listened, his face darkening, but he fell into thought.

What Gongzi Cong said made him, for the first time, rationally consider his own treatment—could it be that, for Zhou Mu, this was already unprecedented?

You Qi had thought, in a self-flagellating way: Zhou Mu is a Taotie by nature, so he deceived me, wanted to eat me, everything was fake.

After hearing Gongzi Cong's words, You Qi began to entertain some thoughts he probably shouldn't have—maybe Zhou Mu wasn't that heartless.

But Zhou Mu clearly doesn't want me anymore...

You Qi thought this, then cast a sinister glance at the despicable Chun Shijiu.

...

After You Qi, as representative, drew the lot and confirmed their group and field, they prepared for the first round of the Selection Contest.

The referees could be seen randomly planting three flags in the field, symbolizing qualification. In the free-for-all, whichever three groups held onto their flags until the end would win.

'Next up is the highly anticipated first round of the Team Combat Selection Contest. Our athletes will be divided into five groups, competing simultaneously on five fields. The lottery has determined the fields and opponents. The group list is now on the big screen. Let's take a look. The most popular and anticipated team is Hualing's You Qi team, universally favored—though I hear they've had some internal issues lately. Ahem, hope they can overcome them. There's also the Cang Bi team, who pulled off an upset win in the Eight Thousand Li event. We don't know if they can create another miracle...'

The host's voice echoed across the field. Dozens of athletes stood ready.

The camera swept over all the athletes, lingering especially long on You Qi, even giving a close-up of his Mouth Cage Fuwén. This is the treatment a Fierce Beast gets—even in combat events, it can't be removed. Competing under such a Restriction only further demonstrates You Qi's astonishing combat power.

Every team drawn into You Qi's group wore troubled expressions. You Qi's team had clearly locked in one of the slots. As a result, it was easy to imagine other teams might band together to attack You Qi's team.

Students and other athletes watching on-site couldn't help but hold their breath. This match was far too entertaining.

Besides him, the one who appeared longest on the big screen was Zhou Mu. Unlike the opening ceremony when he had climbed directly onto You Qi's back, now Zhou Mu and You Qi were two meters apart, both silent as if lost in thought, making people wonder whether You Qi would help Zhou Mu during the match.

During their time at Hualing, many athletes from other schools had also heard of Zhou Mu's exploits and watched them curiously.

When the camera focused on Zhou Mu, the host said nothing, just clicked his tongue and sighed, as if lamenting how delicious he looked and wondering who would ultimately benefit.

At Xie Rulin's command, all athletes entered their respective fields. The field Zhou Mu's five-person team drew was a moderately sized forest.

The big screen on-site was divided into five sections. One could see that athletes in other groups had begun their free-for-all the moment they entered, fighting for the flags.

Only You Qi's group didn't dare make any rash moves. Their first step was to lie in ambush on the spot, playing it safe first.

Although it was a team event, You Qi didn't stick with his teammates. With a flick of his right hand, he condensed a Wind Blade and walked alone into the forest, seemingly intending to find all the hidden groups and beat them out. He just looked... kind of angry?

It made one want to light a candle for his opponents. He looked like he had some pent-up anger he wanted to take out on the field.

The Hualing audience in front of the big screen all went 'Ah!'—compared to You Qi's pitiable opponents, they cared more about the fact that You Qi really hadn't brought Zhou Mu! Had You Qi truly abandoned Zhou Mu completely?

Although they had all expected it, when this scene actually happened, it still caused an uproar.

Yan Xingke on the field gave a bitter smile. His mood from before the match until now could only be described as full of ups and downs. The terrifying way You Qi had looked at Chun Shijiu several times made him afraid You Qi would take it out on Zhou Mu.

Now it seemed that although You Qi wasn't looking after Zhou Mu, at least he hadn't hurt him. That was a blessing in disguise.

He dug a hole on the spot and sighed, comforting: 'Little shidi, hide in here first. We just need to hold out until You Qi takes care of the opponents. Don't be scared. I think You Qi still has some regard for old times. Him going to deal with the others actually counts as protecting us... right?'

Zhou Mu said nothing. From the beginning he'd been excited to compete for the prize money, but today he was listless, even a bit irritated because of what happened before the match.

He looked at You Qi's back, and a thought flashed through his mind: after this match, would You Qi's shirt still be stained with blood?

What was happening before him made Gui Youqi restless. He licked his lower lip and tentatively said: 'Right, let's go inside and wait.'

His movements and expression were too perverted and bizarre. Yan Xingke said with a stiff, wary face: 'The two of us? What are you trying to do?'

He used his hand to gently push Zhou Mu back... ah, he couldn't move him. Zhou Mu kept his head lowered as if too scared to move. Sigh, without You Qi backing him up, little shidi had returned to his timid self. He should be timid, otherwise he'd just be a reckless fool.

Gui Youqi was excited with a hint of fear, and within that fear a hint of eagerness to try. He had also seen the distance between Zhou Mu and You Qi, and Zhou Mu's current protector Chun Shijiu wasn't on the field.

How much face had he lost because of Zhou Mu! Being eaten, humiliated, even forced to compete!

Before, You Qi had protected him, and outside Chun Shijiu had taken over. If he missed today, he might not get another chance before graduation. Thinking of the legendary, extremely alluring scent of Zhou Mu, this thought became even harder to suppress.

Could today be my chance for revenge?

Gui Youqi moved step by step toward Zhou Mu. At this distance You Qi couldn't possibly not know what was happening here, but You Qi did nothing, even though Zhou Mu looked at him with a 'help me' gaze.

Just as I thought.

Excellent...

Blood was rushing to his head. Gui Youqi trembled slightly with excitement, completely abandoning reason. Doing something here was perfectly reasonable, legal, and compliant!

'Do you regret it? Hmm?' For the second time, Gui Youqi looked at Zhou Mu with threatening eyes. 'Don't worry. Out of respect for our team's integrity and for Chun Shijiu as your owner, I won't eat you completely. Let me have a taste and see exactly what you are.'

Never expected that other groups couldn't do anything to them, but their own team had produced a traitor first.

The on-site audience, watching this on the big screen, also sighed. Internal conflict, though rare in past Combat Matches, was not unheard of.

Yan Xingke and Xu Tianyi were clearly on Zhou Mu's side. Seeing this, they both struck first to subdue Gui Youqi.

But Gui Youqi instantly transformed into several massive tentacles. One wrapped around Yan Xingke, one swept Xu Tianyi aside, and the third twisted and shot toward Zhou Mu!

Yan Xingke's gaze, Xu Tianyi's gaze, and the gazes of all the audience watching through the big screen, all fell on Zhou Mu—who usually appeared slow, lazy, and whose reactions were even worse than those of some strong members of the Human Race—showing expressions in advance of either envy or an unwillingness to watch.

But Zhou Mu was still seen with his head lowered. His single hand suddenly rose, and he bare-handedly grabbed that fast, powerful tentacle, without any effort.

The tentacles of the Ghost Head Fish are distributed with large numbers of neurons, like a brain, allowing it to sense its surroundings, extremely sensitive and flexible, and even react autonomously. But at this moment it couldn't escape the grip of that fair, tender hand, and was held tight.

The slender fingers accurately inserted themselves into the special cross-shaped muscle structure, and at the moment the horizontal muscles contracted, twisted—snap!

Crack.

The tentacle hit the ground, still twitching and bending.

The neural system, still able to survive briefly after separating from the main body, stubbornly fed back one message: fear.

'Aaaaaah!!!'

Only now did Gui Youqi let out a heart-wrenching scream, throwing off Xu Tianyi and Yan Xingke, holding the remaining stump in disbelief, his mouth still open in pain and bewilderment after the cry.

In front of the screen, thousands of Hualing teachers and students also moved almost in sync with Gui Youqi, mouths slightly open—the difference being that what they felt was ultimate shock.

This is...

What's going on?

Only now did Zhou Mu slowly raise his eyes. They had already taken on an amber hue.

Zhou Mu's racial trait could probably be described as 'if I bloom, prey comes to me.' Usually he preferred to sit quietly in place, disguised as prey, waiting for fools to deliver themselves. If not necessary, he wouldn't reveal his identity—or in biological terms: mimicry.

Just a few days ago, he had even threatened everyone who had seen his true form, forbidding them from revealing it, lest he not be able to deceive people in the future.

But now, Zhou Mu wasn't in a good mood.

Well, it was pretty bad.

So irritable that he didn't want to pretend anymore. The textbook-level Yao Clan biological mimicry he had maintained for months was completely shattered.

After decisively twisting off the tentacle, Zhou Mu walked toward Gui Youqi himself. Starting from his eyes, with each step more changes occurred in his body. After three steps, he had become a Fierce Beast—a Taotie body with Jiaolong horns.

This was the race Gui Youqi wanted to taste. This was the true form that almost all Hualing students had guessed and coveted for so long—equally stunning, but in the opposite direction.

Zhou Mu stepped heavily on Gui Youqi and let out a low growl—

The aura of an apex predator at the top of the food chain spread out in an instant. Its range was so wide that even all the audience watching off-site went weak in the knees, as if they themselves were on that terrifying field. A bone-deep fear rose from their bloodlines, as if in an instant they had gone from being spectators watching a show to being prey being targeted.

And in fact, they really were within this Fierce Beast's hunting range. Almost everyone could realize this—as long as Zhou Mu was willing, they sat in the distant audience seats, but there was no essential difference between them and Gui Youqi under Zhou Mu's claws.

'Thud.' That was the sound of Yan Xingke, unable to control his weakening limbs, sitting on the ground. His throat couldn't make any sound as he watched everything before him.

This master of disguise tore off his mask and licked his pink paw pads:

'Don't worry, Gui Gui, I won't eat you completely either.'