Chapter 193: Chapter 193 Xiao Lian’s duel.

Jiang Li, with his resigned tone, echoed in the entire arena, making Soma who was ready to pounce once more, stand still. Soma observed Jiang Li state where he was clutching his blue right hand. Soma loosened the tension in his body and approached Jiang Li.

"Are you okay?".

Soma extended his right hand, waiting for the other to grasp it. He chose to help him because he knew that Jiang Li had an honorable nature compared to his master. Also, the fact that a moment ago, they were engaged in an enjoyable duel that they had never felt in their lives made their guard a bit loosened toward each other.

"Thank you".

Jiang Li, using his left hand, grasped Soma's right hand as Soma pulled him up to a standing position. Jiang Li knit his brows as a stinging pain that assaulted his nerves jolted his brain as he clutched his right hand.

"Thanks for your guidance".

Soma didn't utter any sympathy or consolation words and simply cupped his fist, giving the other person his respect, which was replied to by Jiang Li with the same gesture, albeit using one hand.

Simultaneously, both turned their back and went toward their respective partners.

Jiang Li, who arrived at his master's side, bowed his head slightly as he felt ashamed to show his unsightly appearance in front of his master.

"I am sorry, master, for I have failed to execute your mission".

"...Stand up!".

The red-haired man, with his chilling tone, opened his mouth, which made Jiang Li's body tense. Jiang Li slightly showed his face, but a startling crack echoed in the arena, making Jiang Li's eyes open in shock.

A stinging pain began to assault across one cheek, leaving a fiery sensation that would burn his dignity as a man.

"Tch, step aside, useless!".

The red-haired man began to enter the stage.

Soma, who arrived at Xiao Lian's side, raised his right palm in the air and spread his mouth, showing his joyful expression.

"I won".

"Mm, you are. That was an eye-opening duel".

Xiao Lian, who raised her hand to meet Soma's palm, stopped in the air as a dry slap reverberated in the arena, making her and Soma's attention turned the source. They saw the red-haired senior slap Jiang Li and spared him no glance as if he was dealing with pebbles on the side road.

Soma, who happened to see that, knit his brows as he slowly lowered his raised hand and clenched it tightly. "That bastard!".

"Soma!".

Xiao Lian's chill tone brought his attention back toward her while she, with her raised hand, gestured to him to do the same. Soma's tensed body loosened as he raised his right hand as Xiao Lian clapped it.

"I'm going".

"Wait, Xiao Lian".

"What?!".

Soma suddenly stood in front of her as she wanted to enter the arena. He blocked her body completely, making her freeze up briefly. She noticed that on Soma's left palm, its dark diamond shone, and on his palm, there was a slice of cut fruit with an orange color. She alternated her gaze between him and the fruit as she saw Soma pick it up at his fingertips.

"Open wide!".

Xiao Lian's face stiffened because of the unexpected situation she was in. She never knew that Soma had this side of him, seeing the fruit in front of her eyes. Xiao Lian, who didn't want to make Soma wait too long with her trembling lips, pounced her lips and managed to engulf the fruit along with Soma's fingers.

Soma, who felt her soft, glossy lips and her wet tongue that touched his skin, stiffened his face as he slowly took his fingers not to make her uncomfortable.

"Eat the fruit!".

Xiao Lian nodded as she slowly swayed her jaw, chewing the fruit in her mouth. A mix of sweet and sour tastes exploded inside her mouth, making her listless eyes bloated in full color.

[You ingested a mutated fruit that grew inside the gate, constitution raised: Agility raised (+10) for 1 minute]

"This is?!".

A translucent window began to appear in front of her, notified the fruit had worked its effect to enhance one of her stats temporarily. Xiao Lian, with trembling eyes, tried to open her mouth when Soma put his index finger on her lips, making Xiao Lian's face flush.

"There are no rules that state you can't buff yourself. …Off you go!".

Soma, without giving her time to answer, urged Xiao Lian to enter the arena.

"If things get south, don't forget to use your magic!".

Xiao Lian, who felt the warm hands that pushed her back and the slight reminder that echoed in her ears, made her body burn with fighting spirit. She nodded her head while unwillingly to separate with Soma's hands on her back.

With her steady step, Xiao Lian regulated her breathing while also concentrating on her emotions to become null again and focused her thoughts on the enemy in front of her.

The red-haired senior who received the glare spread his gentle smile and then cast his murderous gaze toward Soma.

He witnessed their talk in secret, which happened in close contact, and it gave him irks and roused the desire to kill the boy even further.

However, it was not the time. Jiang Wei must have focused his attention on the princess that stood in front of him, with her ethereal figure that shone even in the evening hour. She truly lived up to her name as the beauty from Xiao Clan.

"...You finally came, Miss Xiao". S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"...".

As per her agreement with Soma, Xiao Lian shut her lips tight and ignored the red-haired senior greeting while she was still trying to form a plan to defeat the guy in front of her.

"Shall we start, Miss Xiao Lian. I, with the name of Jiang Wei, challenge you to a duel".

Xiao Lian clenched her hands that held the staff. She bent her knees in a middle stance position while casting her fierce glint on Jing Wei.

"Then, I will give you a handi… "

Then, without waiting for her opponent to finish his words. Xiao Lian kicked the ground, and it created afterimages that made Jiang Wei's eyes bloated in shock. With a single swift motion, Xiao Lian thrust her staff aimed at Jiang Wei's throat, who was still unaware of the situation.

"Gahak".

A dry thud resonated in the arena, making Soma, who heard to knit his brows in wonder, and Jiang Li sign in exasperated. Jiang Wei, whose eyes were rolling into the back, flew back, creating beautifully curved balls before his back slammed to the ground unconscious.

Xiao Lian, who also still didn't comprehend the situation, tilted her head. She straightened her spine and faced the unconscious senior once more.

"He's weak, but…".

With her enhanced movement and her current strength, she could manifest a stronger blow from the current battle power she had. However, she felt a slightly complicated feeling as she was never being taught to retort to that way of doing things.

Xiao Lian, who finally realized she had won, breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the blue-haired senior approach before her, picking up the unconscious senior.

"You win, Miss. Please excuse me".

Xiao Lian, who saw the two seniors retreating back, pumped her fist into the air as she felt a tremendous amount of joy after striking that persistent guy.

"I won?!".

"Yes, you are. You did a good job making that man swallow his own words".

Soma's sudden voice jolted her body forward as she spun her body to the back, seeing Soma showing his white teeth while also raising his right hand.

However, Xiao Lian felt something else swelling inside her, without knowing why her body accelerated before she nosedived toward his robust chest, which gave her a sense of peace.

[Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]

"Xiao Lian".

"I worked hard!".

"Ah? um".

"I worked hard!".

"Yeah, I certainly witnessed that".

"I worked hard!".

"?".

Soma, who kept getting this broken record, felt a slight chill running through his spine. He started to rack his brain as to why Xiao Lian suddenly acted spoiled like this. "Oh, I see, I remembered it now. So, that's how it is".

Xiao Lian's body stiffened as she felt a warm touch on her head, spreading full joy in her brain. She rubbed her cheeks against his chest and acted like a kitten, marking her territory.

"Good job, Xiao Lian".