Chapter 46: Past Worries

Up through the spiraling staircase, a dining table was laid out with a delicious array of food. It was the weekend before the deciding match, and as the dishes began to disappear, Fang spoke. “Valeria, there’s something I need to tell you—I’ll be participating in the competition arranged by the chamber of commerce this Tuesday.”

Valeria froze and put down her fork.

Hearing about this “competition” for the first time, Mii curiously asked, “What competition?”

“It’s a friendly event to compare skills with other students from the various classes,” Fang explained.

Innocently, Mii said, “That’s great! You’ll definitely learn a lot by attending.”

“Yeah, and my match will be with the representative of class two. The hopes of class eight are riding on me, and I can’t disappoint them.” Though Fang responded to Mii, his gaze was fixed on Valeria.

He had the freedom to choose, but Valeria had already warned him about being exploited in the competition.

“Class two?” Mii looked at Fang in surprise. “Fang, isn’t that the top class in the college?”

Most institutes generally followed the same arrangement, with classes one and two containing the most talented students.

“Yes, it is!” Fang waited for a response from Valeria, but silence filled the air.

Finally, Valeria let out a sigh, her expression ambiguous. Fang couldn’t tell if she agreed with his decision.

A regretful voice broke the quiet. “I wish the competition were held on the weekend. Since it isn’t, I can’t go. But Fang, I believe you’ll win!”

Fang smiled. While Mii’s support was reassuring, it was Valeria’s thoughts he truly sought.

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After dinner, Fang arrived at the training area. The match was only days away, and he needed to fit in as much practice as possible. As he began to warm up, Valeria entered the room.

She hadn’t changed out of the clothes she wore at dinner, and Fang immediately realized she wasn’t there as an opponent but for a different reason. While Mii was present earlier, Valeria hadn’t mentioned the competition, but clearly, she hadn’t let go of the topic.

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“Fang, do you really plan to participate?”

He nodded decisively. “Yes, and even if you oppose it, I’m going ahead with it.”

She calmly walked around the room, her steps long and soft. “I’ll respect your choice, but let me warn you again—you’re now the enemy of William’s family. They will do anything, cruel and merciless, to put you down. You could end up crippled, or worse. So, think again, and yield on that pride. Consider it rationally.”

Fang could hear the poorly disguised worry in her voice. To reassure her, he turned toward Valeria and slightly raised his hands. “Valeria, you don’t need to worry. I’ve thought this through. Even if William tries to overpower me, I’ll be fine because of this…”

As he spoke, a faint glow of energy appeared around his hands. The dim room brightened intensely for a few seconds before returning to its usual lighting.

*This is…*

Valeria stared at Fang, her red lips unable to hide her amazement. She had underestimated him completely.

Her tone shifted, and with newfound firmness, she said, “Well then, I’ll fully support your decision!”

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The sun dipped below the horizon that Tuesday night as people flooded into the lively practice grounds. The competition hosted by the chamber of commerce was about to begin. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Students rushed into various arenas, each divided by year. Only the representatives of each class would participate, but the results of the matches concerned all classes, as they directly impacted their standings at Garden College. Moreover, the excitement of seeing the strongest students in serious combat was palpable.

To the side, temporary seating had been arranged for the honored guests of the competition, which included the teachers and sponsors. At the center of the seats sat a man dressed in meticulous black attire, exuding an air of authority. His features were sharp and commanding, giving off the pressure of someone far beyond an ordinary merchant; his level was definitely at the soul stage, higher than the majority of masters. Engraved on a plaque in bold letters was his name: Richard.

Richard was the main sponsor of the tournament and the chairman of the largest business in Minuet City. His son, William, being the prefect of class two, naturally drew him to attend the match.

As the crowd began to settle, it was nearly time for the competition to start. The vice president of the college, representing the committee overseeing the event, approached the podium. “Today, the chamber of commerce has generously sponsored this competition, with scholarships designed to reward great achievement. On behalf of Garden College, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the businesses that made this possible. We’ve invited the president of the association of businesses, who graciously made time to attend. Please give a warm welcome to Richard!”

Applause echoed through the arena as Richard stood, waving with a perfect smile as he made his way to the podium. His voice boomed enthusiastically.

“Seeing all these youthful, talented students today brightens my heart—you are the hope of the future. With that in mind, I sponsored this competition to promote excellence and friendship. Although only one representative is participating from each class, I believe the support from your fellow students will foster unity. Friendships are important, and with strong bonds, I believe you’ll have the resolve to become even stronger!”

More applause followed his speech. Richard had made a positive impression, his words feeling genuine and motivating.

However, Fang glared at the figure descending from the podium. *If this man truly believed in the principles he spoke of, how did that incident with Valeria’s family happen?* Surely, Valeria wasn’t lying about how her family had been torn apart by this monster?

Fang wasn’t the only one watching. Among the crowd, fervent eyes filled with hatred were fixed on the confident speaker.

Although Fang had displayed abilities that exceeded Valeria’s expectations, there was no way she would miss this event. However, knowing that it would be complicated for her to appear publicly as the head of the chamber of commerce—essentially controlled by Richard—she came discreetly. Her attire drew curious looks from the crowd, but attention quickly shifted as the competition began.

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The first bracket pitted class one against class five. The son of a renowned military figure represented class one, and the match was one-sided. With a flurry of rapid blows, the class one representative overwhelmed the feeble defenses of class five’s prefect, and the result was quickly called.

Even though class five had lost, they bore no grudges. The difference in strength, skill, and ability had been too great.

The second bracket saw class three face off against class four. More evenly matched in power, the fight was intense, with bursts of energy flying back and forth. In the end, bruised and battered, the representative of class four claimed a narrow victory.

All eyes were now on the third bracket.

Class two versus class eight—high versus low. Class two was obviously superior, but a certain event had forged an intense rivalry between the two classes. Ever since Fang’s victory over Ray, class two had been suppressing their resentment, waiting for a chance to exact revenge. Today’s competition was their opportunity to unleash it.

Cheers erupted from class two as William proudly ascended the stage. His confidence was unshaken—after all, his father was essentially running the event, and his strength left no doubt in his mind about the outcome.

On the other side, a quiet, worried voice came from Blue. “Fang, I’ve heard that the relationship between Richard and Valeria isn’t good, since they both work in the same area. Be careful—if he finds out you’re close to Valeria, you could be in danger.”

Fang simply replied, “Thanks for the concern, but I know.”

He patted Blue’s shoulder and walked onto the stage.

Blue sighed. *Who cares about you… It’s just that you shouldn’t get hurt because you’re mine!*