TL: Hua
For Ji Xuan, one more or one fewer match truly made no difference.
“Sure,” he agreed readily. When he looked up, his eyes shimmered slightly with a hint of playfulness. “But simply winning or losing is meaningless to me. If you want to compete with me, you have to offer something interesting.”
A challenged party has no room to refuse, but Pei Yingye hadn’t come with the intention of forcing him. The names of the two had not yet appeared on the observation screen; perhaps the judging AI didn’t consider what he had just said to be a formal challenge invitation.
Pei Yingye thought for a moment as requested: “If you win, I’ll grant you one request. Conversely, you’ll grant me one.”
Ji Xuan thought about it and asked with a half-smile, “Any request at all?”
Pei Yingye looked at him with burning eyes, enunciating every word: “Of course, anything.”
“Deal.”
The names of the two instantly appeared on the screen, and the spectator stands broke into an uproar.
A crisp whistle blew.
Pei Yingye didn’t believe that losing to Ji Xuan in training previously was a matter of his own strength; if he hadn’t suddenly smelled the Omega’s pheromones, he wouldn’t have let Ji Xuan succeed in a sneak attack due to a momentary lapse. But he acknowledged Ji Xuan’s strength. It was a style that didn’t lose to the academy’s orthodox attack methods at all. It was hard to say if he was more like a venomous snake or a crane, making an Alpha’s innate desire for conquest stir.
He wanted to win against Ji Xuan.
He had also thought of a request.
Ji Xuan did not treat him the same way he treated Zhou Lin’s group. He was well aware of Pei Yingye’s strength, and in a blink, the two had exchanged several moves.
Ji Xuan’s fingers clamped onto the inside of Pei Yingye’s arm, using the momentum to lock it and pressing down fiercely!
His strength wasn’t heavy, but he used clever leverage, enough to dislocate the opponent’s arm directly.
However, Pei Yingye reacted extremely quickly. His shoulder dropped, forcibly shrugging off that force, as he grabbed Ji Xuan’s waist and flipped backward—
Bang—!
The two fell to the ground together. Pei Yingye was half-pressing on him, his breathing growing ragged from the heavy impact. His hot breath brushed against Ji Xuan’s neck without cover; the two were excessively close.
He stared into Ji Xuan’s eyes, a smile curving his lips: “Sorry, I still ended up getting your clothes dirty.”
The restless Alpha pheromones were firmly blocked inside his body by his wristband. Pei Yingye’s eyes sparkled with light, but before the hand he had pressed against the other’s chest could move, Ji Xuan’s eyes flicked up, and his lips also curved into a smile.
In the next instant, he suddenly curled his knee, slamming it into Pei Yingye’s side. Using the momentum, he spun around and, with an extremely unorthodox posture, flipped over beautifully, pinning the other man firmly to the ground.
The spectator stands erupted in screams.
“If they’re dirty, they’re dirty. After all, when playing with a puppy, it’s normal to get some dirt on you,” Ji Xuan said calmly, his knee pressing against Pei Yingye’s ribs as if he could take his breath away at any moment.
Pei Yingye’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and a fierce, flickering fire seemed to explode in his eyes.
“Then be careful you don’t get bitten.”
He grinned and suddenly exerted force. With a twist of his shoulders and waist at the same time, he actually broke free by brute force, grabbing Ji Xuan’s wrist and pinning him against the guardrail.
Ji Xuan’s shoulder hit the cold iron rail, and his muscles recoiled for a second, but he didn’t panic. Instead, he turned his head and commented nonchalantly, “Quite a lot of strength.”
Before his voice finished, he twisted his waist and delivered a spinning sweep kick to Pei Yingye’s side. There was a crisp crack sound! Pei Yingye raised his arm to block but couldn’t stop the other from seizing the advantage. Ji Xuan didn’t hesitate; ignoring the pain in his gripped hands, his legs suddenly coiled around Pei Yingye’s waist, dragging him down by force.
“—!”
Pei Yingye groaned. Ji Xuan grabbed the joint that had been nearly dislocated by the other’s grip and pressed firmly; with a click, it was snapped back into place.
His knee pressed steadily against Pei Yingye’s shoulder, the tip of his boot against his waist. Pei Yingye was pinned down. After a few rapid breaths, he stared at Ji Xuan’s face above him.
A thin layer of sweat finally appeared on Ji Xuan’s forehead, wetting a few stray hairs. His skin became even paler after the intense exercise, making his eyes appear deep black. His upper body leaned down slightly; his scorpion braid had come loose from the fight, and the falling strands brushed against Pei Yingye’s neck.
During this brief moment of stillness, even the spectator stands held their breath.
Ji Xuan reached past Pei Yingye’s shoulder to pick up the hair tie he had just sent flying from the ground not far to his upper right.
Pei Yingye’s throat tightened uncontrollably. The surrounding sounds receded like a tide, leaving only the sight before him in his vision—
Ji Xuan looked down at him, his kneeling legs immobilizing him. Sweat slid down the fair cheek and slender neck, disappearing into the collar of the training uniform. The chest heaving with the rhythm of breath was right before his eyes, alluring and sexy.
Pei Yingye smelled a trace of something faint. It wasn’t pheromones, but the gentle yet bitter fragrance of shampoo, which felt out of place amidst the sweat and metallic smell of the training ground.
He couldn’t stop his chest from feeling hot or his throat from going dry. As if bewitched, he reached out to grab him, but at the last second, he pulled back with all his might.
Ji Xuan began to braid his hair. Actually, the winner hadn’t been decided yet; Pei Yingye had a total opportunity to counterattack again. He wanted to taunt Ji Xuan for underestimating his enemy, reminding him that the person he had briefly subdued wasn’t like that group of idiots but a beast that bites and counterattacks, but as soon as his left leg lifted, it dropped back down as if all strength had left it, as if he were willing to surrender.
“…I admit defeat.” Pei Yingye took in his actions without hesitation, a hint of regret rising in his heart for a wish that hadn’t been fulfilled.
Ji Xuan lowered his eyes, his erratic breathing calming down, as if he were deep in thought.
After a long pause, he asked, “In the Medical Department, is there an Omega you like?”
Pei Yingye hadn’t expected him to ask such a random question. An extremely complex expression instantly appeared on his face. Ji Xuan watched his face turn from green to white until finally, only an incredulous sound escaped: “Huh?”
Then, he gestured wildly as he questioned, “Who in the Medical Department do you think I’ve taken a fancy to—”
Ji Xuan had already gotten the answer he wanted and cut him off: “I understand.”
With that, he stood up from Pei Yingye.
The final result lit up on the observation screen. Ji Xuan brushed the dust off his training uniform, intending to go to a corner of the training ground to slack off. However, before he could walk away, Pei Yingye suddenly grabbed his arm.
“That’s your request?” Pei Yingye said unhappily. “Isn’t that looking down on me a bit too much?”
Ji Xuan turned his head, his gaze passing over Pei Yingye’s hand to meet his eyes.
“Then for the upcoming Full-domain Simulation, team up with me.” Ji Xuan watched as Pei Yingye froze for a second, then asked as if coaxing a child, “Is that okay?”
“You’ve just decided like that?” Pei Yingye’s eyes widened. “You don’t plan on forcing me to do something more… outrageous?”
Ji Xuan didn’t answer but asked instead, “What did you originally want me to promise?”
I want you to break off your engagement with that guy named Shen.
Pei Yingye thought viciously but didn’t open his mouth. But Ji Xuan’s eyes were dark and clear, as if they had instantly seen through all the unseemly thoughts in his heart.
“…Fine.” He accepted Ji Xuan’s request. “For the full-domain simulation, I’ll be with you.”
–
The news of Ji Xuan defeating Pei Yingye in basic combat spread throughout Mars Military Academy in no time. Discussion threads on the forum popped up one after another, and the real-time log thread exploded.
[1238L: Is this my punishment for sleeping in this morning and not going to the scene? You’re saying PYY, who has been steadily dominating the first place since enrollment, lost?]
[1239L: My friend has been back from the training ground for an hour and still can’t face reality…]
[1240L: Does no one know that PYY already lost once during previous training? It’s just that no one mentioned it at the time.]
[1241L: I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it!! You’re saying a 3S-grade Alpha lost to a low-grade Omega? This world is way too surreal.]
[1242L: …The filter is broken. PYY, I hate you so much.]
[1243L: It’s not actually that exaggerated, right? PYY only lost to JX once; he won everything else afterward.]
[1244L: Losing to JX isn’t considered exaggerated?]
[1245L: So angry, so angry, so angry! After Ji Xuan finished fighting Pei Yingye, he’s just been slacking off like a smug winner, and nobody else is challenging him! I came to see him make a fool of himself, not to see him show off. I’m so angry. A bunch of trash in the Combat Department can’t even beat an Omega!]
[1246L: Assessment reporting channel: [Link] Believe that I’m Qin Shi Huang[1], or believe that Ji Xuan didn’t cheat or take drugs!]
[1247L: The more I think about it, the madder I get. Is there not a single one of you in the Combat Department who can fight? Are you just going to watch him be arrogant?]
[1248L: If I recall correctly, the person who said a few days ago that JX cheated on the mental power test and was waiting to see him embarrassed in combat was also the person above, right? You really hate JX. Could it be that you’re SQ’s lustful fan?]
[1249L: What’s wrong with being a lustful fan? I could also be PYY’s lustful fan. Do I need a reason to look down on JX?]
…
[1432L: It’s just a win or loss in basic combat; what is there to argue about? The capable ones in the Combat Department have already started analyzing JX’s moves and patterns. Only you idiots are here having a breakdown and cursing in the streets [lights cigarette]]
[1433L: Such fluid and graceful moves, such clean and decisive footwork… Tsk, the Omega of my dreams has appeared!]
[1434L: Thanks for the invite, I was at the scene. I’m not PYY, but I’m almost falling in love. It’s hard to imagine how PYY’s heart must have been racing at the time.]
[1435L: …I’ve lived long enough to see it; JX actually has fans now?]
–
The basic combat assessment was held over two halves of the day; the afternoon was the assessment for Group B.
Pei Yingye didn’t go to the scene to watch as he did in previous years. Instead, he went home.
The villa situated on the outskirts of the capital planet was very quiet. Compared to the bustling traffic in the center where Mars was located, only the sounds of birds and cicadas could be heard here.
There was no one at home, only a stupid robot at the door welcoming him.
“Young Master is back!”
The robot’s appearance had been changed by someone into an indescribable red-and-green combo. Pei Yingye glanced at it and immediately looked away, wishing he could poke his own eyes out.
“Did my dad bully you again?” Pei Yingye said helplessly. Covering his eyes with one hand, he blindly operated on the robot for a bit, changing its appearance back. “Comrade Echo, I hope you have some pride as a robot and have the courage to say ‘No’ to such malicious behavior.”
The eyes on the robot’s faceplate flickered: “But if I defy the Master, he’ll go to the General to back him up.”
Pei Yingye let out a scoff of disdain: “How old is he? What a brat.”
“My female-father is at the North Star Fortress; he can’t possibly come back. You can rest easy.”
With that, Pei Yingye started heading upstairs.
The household robot followed closely behind. Following its habit every time he returned, it activated his physical health monitoring, its mouth running non-stop: “Young Master, why is your body temperature so much higher than usual today? Your heart rate too—is it a pheromone disorder again? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Do you need me to get medicine?”
Pei Yingye paused mid-step. The muscles of his arm resting on the handrail tensed and bulged for some unknown reason.
“Echo,” Pei Yingye squeezed out, “you’re wasting your potential being a household robot. You should have been a machine gun.”
“Your breathing is starting to get erratic, too.” The robot didn’t catch the sarcasm in his voice at all. “Ah, could it be that your rut is approaching?”
[1] Qin Shi Huang is the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty.
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