Chapter 46 - Choosing an Opponent

When the first day of the competition was over, Kong Rui stood up and stretched. “It’s finally over.”

She wanted to leave early, but the protocol officer insisted on putting the ceremony of choosing an opponent for the next day at the end of the competition. She had no choice but to wait obediently.

According to the rules that had been announced previously, after everyone’s competition ended, the winner of this round had the right to choose their opponent for the next round.

She saw Wen Qiong’s name in the nameplate hanging in midair.

Someone had deliberately mixed Wen Qiong’s nameplate in, which saved Kong Rui a lot of trouble.

With the little phoenix by Wen Qiong’s side, no one would choose her. Out of their ties with the royal family, the five families also wouldn’t choose her as their next opponent.

However, Kong Rui had no such worries. Her target was Wen Qiong!

The eagle feather in her hand was the one in the little phoenix’s mouth.

At that time, in order to ridicule her, Wen Qiong had specifically sent a maid to send the eagle feather to Kong Rui.

Now, she inserted the eagle feather into the center of Wen Qiong’s nameplate.

The protocol officer didn’t expect Kong Rui to do this. He shakily grabbed Wen Qiong’s nameplate and tried to pull out the eagle feather, but he realized that he couldn’t.

The official coughed awkwardly and said loudly, “Li Ling of the Li family, her next opponent is… princess Wen Qiong!”

As soon as the protocol officer finished speaking, discussions immediately sounded from the center of the colosseum.

“Is Li Ling crazy?”

“She has already lost to the princess. How does she still have the courage to challenge her?”

“Has this girl been emboldened after winning just once?”

“I think she just wants to show off!”

Amidst the discussion, Kong Rui looked up at the platform.

Wen Qiong was glaring at Kong Rui angrily as she gritted her teeth, as if she wanted to tear her apart. The queen, who was sitting at the side, had a cold gaze, like when she ordered someone to extract the phoenix essence from Kong Rui!

Kong Rui smirked slightly. It was as if she was mocking the two of them after seeing through what they were thinking.

The queen suddenly felt a chill down her spine and shivered involuntarily.

How many years had it been since she’d seen such an expression? Why did Li Ling give her a feeling of déjà vu?

Before the queen could think about it, Kong Rui had already retracted her gaze and followed the Li family’s patriarch out of the colosseum.

The Li family’s patriarch was furious. Before he finished watching all the other contestants choose their opponents, he left the venue early.

He cursed fiercely as he turned around to glare at Kong Rui from time to time.

Kong Rui followed behind the patriarch without making eye contact with him, lest he scold her even more.

When she passed Hua Shang, she heard Hua Shang say softly, “Good job!”

However, when she turned to look at Hua Shang, she could only see his vaguely discernible face that was covered by the white bamboo hat.

Kong Rui frowned slightly. She didn’t like such secretive people.

…

As soon as they walked out of the Bestial Battle Arena, the Li family’s patriarch questioned her with a face filled with anger, “What are you thinking?! What are you…”

The patriarch glared at Kong Rui with a flushed face and widened eyes.

Kong Rui stood where she was and looked at her toes. Looking resigned, she didn’t move or speak.

On her shoulder, the Blazing Flame Eagle also lowered its head and narrowed its eyes. It looked like it was about to fall asleep.

The patriarch pointed at Kong Rui’s head with one hand as he said angrily, “You really don’t know what’s good for you! You’ve already avoided the princess, so why are you giving yourself trouble again?!”

“You’re simply… courting death!” The patriarch said. Seeing Kong Rui’s distracted expression, he sighed angrily.

At this moment, his attitude was a stark contrast how satisfied the patriarch was with Kong Rui in the Bestial Battle Arena.

Probably, the patriarch wanted nothing more than to kick Kong Rui out of the Li family so that the queen wouldn’t find trouble with the Li family!

It was fine if she chose the princess as his opponent, but she actually used that method…

Recalling the killing intent in the queen’s eyes when she saw that the princess’s name plate was pierced by a feather, the patriarch couldn’t help but frown.

He had watched the queen grow up. That child had always been vengeful!

Now that she was the queen, how could she let her daughter suffer such humiliation?!

The patriarch sighed, then ignored Kong Rui and got into the carriage alone.

The carriage sped along and instantly disappeared around the corner.