On the rooftop.
Bai Cha leaned against the wall with her eyes closed, feigning sleep, while Mo Ziye built a fire and faithfully guarded it.
Logically, starting a fire wasn't a wise move. A bonfire in the dark was far too conspicuous, no different from directly revealing one's location to enemies.
However, Bai Cha didn't stop him. In the face of absolute power, there was no need to worry about disadvantageous situations.
For the past few days, everyone had been on edge. Being able to endure was one thing, but maintaining good condition was another. This was not just a test of individual ability, but also a test of physical strength and endurance.
Thus, under the warm bonfire, the breathing of the two seemed to become much more even. Mo Ziye appeared somewhat happy, a faint smile playing on his lips. He poked the fire with a small twig, wanting the heat to spread more thoroughly, as if his mood was as fervent as the flames.
If only time could stand still, Mo Ziye thought with a flicker of joy.
After an unknown amount of time, Bai Cha suddenly opened her eyes. Her gaze was as sharp and piercing as an eagle's, startling Mo Ziye, who was poking the fire.
"What's wrong?" Mo Ziye blinked, instinctively reaching for his holy sword formed from light energy. But before he could act, Bai Cha pressed his hand.
Bai Cha's slender fingers, like white jade, touched her lips, signaling Mo Ziye to remain silent. Mo Ziye quickly nodded. Bai Cha's graceful, long hand then covered his, and the soft yet firm touch caused a blush to creep onto his cheeks.
The surroundings were utterly silent, devoid of any sound. Mo Ziye quickly calmed down and carefully observed the area.
Dead leaves, bonfire, starlit sky, precarious building, dense forest... everything seemed no different, except for the profound silence.
"Close your eyes," Bai Cha said softly. "Use your senses to probe everything. Your eyes will deceive you."
Sensing the guidance in Bai Cha's words, Mo Ziye nodded eagerly, closed his eyes, and focused his senses.
With his eyes closed and breathing slowed, the surroundings were plunged into darkness. The fire crackled, and the faint coolness of the wind could be heard, along with the almost imperceptible sound of flowing water.
Water? How could there be the sound of flowing water here?
The sound of the water grew closer, and Mo Ziye was suddenly alarmed. He stood up.
However, he was a step too slow.
Opening his eyes, Mo Ziye saw only a spray of blood.
Just moments ago, as he reacted and opened his eyes, Bai Cha had already moved. The dark dagger in her hand plunged directly into the chest of the blue figure. The long sword, like frost, was only an inch away from Mo Ziye's face.
Bai Cha and Cang Liu were extremely close. The moment Cang Liu's killing intent erupted from Bai Cha's body, he realized something was terribly wrong. Cang Hai Sword parried upwards, attempting to block and retreat, but Bai Cha, like a water snake, twisted and slid directly in front of him.
Cang Liu's body was cold, his body temperature colder than a corpse. Even the blood that splashed out was chilling. His pure azure eyes held Bai Cha's composed face, reflected in their astonished depths.
Cang Liu fell to the ground, unable to move. The black dagger in his chest was corroding his body, causing intense pain with the slightest movement.
In fact, he didn't struggle. In Bai Cha's eyes, Cang Liu seemed to have given up attacking the moment he faced her, his movements even becoming slightly stiff.
"So strong..." Cang Liu's voice was stiff. His blue, silk-like hair was dishevelled and spread across the ground. His already paper-pale face was even paler, possessing a sickly beauty.
Even in his dying moments, his voice was still pleasant, like the murmur of the sea. There was no surprise, no anger, as if he had long anticipated this outcome.
Bai Cha didn't reply. She placed her hand into the bonfire, and only then did Mo Ziye notice that Bai Cha's hand was covered in a layer of frost.
Cang Liu's blood was so cold that it turned to ice shards upon leaving his body, directly cutting Bai Cha's hand. The frost on Bai Cha's hand was tenacious; even under the scorching flames, it only began to melt after half a minute.
Fortunately, Bai Cha retreated quickly. Had it not been for her experience and swift withdrawal, her entire body would likely have been frozen solid by now.
The helicopter soon arrived, and two medical personnel descended on ropes, quickly administering emergency aid to Cang Liu.
"You... cough cough." The black dagger had already paralyzed his entire body. Cang Liu knew it was the power of darkness. He murmured, his voice so low only he could hear, "No matter when, you can always defeat me so easily."
The wound on his chest had begun to numb. Cang Liu had experienced similar power. During a simulated combat session, after being injured by Mo Ziye's light energy, he had felt a similar sensation: full-body paralysis, gradual erosion. However, Bai Cha and Mo Ziye gave him two entirely different feelings.
Warm light, and chilling darkness.
"You know me." Bai Cha, seeing the frost on her hand finally melt, let out a sigh of relief and walked over to Cang Liu. Her gaze was as still as an ancient well as she spoke, her words a statement of certainty: "You genuinely intended to kill Mo Ziye just now."
The first time Bai Cha encountered Cang Liu, he had defeated three people. At that time, Bai Cha had only sensed restrained fighting intent. But this time, after seeing her and Mo Ziye, Bai Cha had clearly felt Cang Liu's sharp killing intent.
Bai Cha had sparred with Cang Liu before, and he harbored no animosity towards her. Therefore, the target of this killing intent could only be Mo Ziye. Did they have some past conflict?
"...Sorry."
Cang Liu gave a slight smile. Watching Cang Liu being wrapped layer by layer in thick bandages by the medical personnel, like a mummy being loaded onto the helicopter, Bai Cha couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and speechlessness.
No other choice. Cang Liu's body temperature was too low. Normal people would easily freeze, let alone if he was bleeding. A slight touch could freeze someone solid, so temporary physical insulation was necessary.
Mo Ziye, witnessing this scene, found it both amusing and exasperating. He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of humor seeing Cang Liu's cold expression while his body below the neck was swaddled like a dumpling.
Bai Cha remained silent for a moment. Clearly, Mo Ziye hadn't heard her conversation with Cang Liu. Bai Cha couldn't understand why Cang Liu had such strong killing intent towards Mo Ziye. She didn't know Cang Liu, nor did she know why he had suddenly apologized.
This person was truly strange.
"Let's go, it's almost over." Bai Cha glanced at her watch. Six people were still alive, and one name was familiar to Bai Cha – Lang Mo.
Lang Mo had originally been in fourth place. With Cang Liu's name turning gray, he moved up to third. His score was still increasing, suggesting he was currently engaged in combat.
The helicopter flew away, the bonfire on the roof was extinguished, and everything returned to its original state.
Only Mo Ziye trailed behind Bai Cha like a little follower, so much so that Lang Mo almost popped his eyeballs out when he saw the two of them.
"Whoa, when did you two get together?" Lang Mo ran a hand through his spiky, dyed-red hair, nearly dropping his large saber in surprise. "Damn, boss, you guys aren't planning on beating me up together, are you? I mean, we're all on the same side, could you at least let me take out the last five?"
"What are you talking about? Together?" Mo Ziye was thin-skinned and couldn't handle Lang Mo's rough language. His face immediately turned red. "We just... after we met... uh, after we met..."
Right, what happened after they met?
The two hadn't formed an alliance. He couldn't say he just wanted to follow Bai Cha, could he? What kind of reason was that?
"After you met, what? Kid, what I meant was, when did you two meet and come here together? You're thinking about it the wrong way." Lang Mo rolled his eyes, hoisting his saber. "Also, what's your deal? Why are the leaders of two factions hanging out together?"
"Lang Mo," Bai Cha frowned and interrupted. "I'll give you a chance for third place. Clear out the others."
"Damn, why? Am I supposed to be your lackey?" Lang Mo immediately protested. However, upon seeing Bai Cha's gaze, he quickly turned around. "Ahem, I, I admit my voice was a bit loud just now..."
Lang Mo grumbled, then reluctantly went off to find people.
Whoever wanted to fight him, let them. He certainly wasn't going to fight Bai Cha.
He still vividly remembered being severely beaten by Bai Cha for disobeying last time and lying in bed for a month.
"What about us?" Mo Ziye looked at Bai Cha, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He was already half a head shorter than Bai Cha, and looking up at her like this made him resemble a child looking at his older sister.
Moreover, his bright, captivating eyes were incredibly out of place in this dangerous training ground, leaving Bai Cha speechless.
He really reminded her of the golden retriever she used to have...
"Just watch," Bai Cha quietly averted her gaze and led Mo Ziye to follow Lang Mo.
Then, Mo Ziye witnessed what could only be described as a ferocious bull.
"Behold my saber! Hoya!"
Lang Mo, engulfed in blazing flames, charged forward with his fiery saber. Wherever he passed, not only enemies but even massive tree trunks turned to ash. Mo Ziye was inwardly startled.
"Bai Cha, can you really beat him?" Mo Ziye felt a little uneasy. He had the best grades in the class, scoring full marks in almost every subject.
However, Lang Mo's ranking was only eighth. Mo Ziye hadn't paid attention to him before. Thinking about it now, Lang Mo's combat score was also perfect, but his academic performance had barely passed, which had lowered his average score.
Lang Mo was powerfully built, broad and sturdy. His 1.95-meter frame, coupled with muscles as hard as stone, made him look like a Hulk even more exaggerated than his father. Topped with his lush hedgehog hairstyle, he looked like a lion, making Mo Ziye's heart pound.
He couldn't beat this guy. Forget beating him, who would dare to fight him?
Despite his large physique, Lang Mo's reaction was incredibly agile. He swung his massive saber left and right, and could quickly bring it up to defend himself. Standing there, he was practically an impenetrable sphere.
"Hmm, his flaws are quite obvious," Bai Cha nodded. She looked at Mo Ziye and suddenly asked a question that left him bewildered: "Do you want to become stronger?"
"Of course! I chose the Dragon Knight combat major precisely because I want to become stronger! I want to be the strongest Dragon Knight!" Mo Ziye's voice was filled with excitement. He looked up at Bai Cha, his eyes holding the purest hope for the future. "And by becoming stronger, I can protect you and everyone else!"
Looking at Mo Ziye's gaze, Bai Cha's eyes flickered. She recognized that look. The Shadow faction had adopted many children, and they all had this look – this yearning for dreams and power.
How wonderful...
Bai Cha didn't say much more, merely nodding and signaling Mo Ziye to continue watching Lang Mo's fight closely.
At this point, the battle was nearing its end. The girl who had been relentlessly attacking Lang Mo was growing weak. As her short sword, thrust out once again, was blocked by Lang Mo, his counterattack finally came.
Lang Mo vibrated his large saber. The high-frequency oscillations directly sent the girl's weapon flying. Startled, the girl quickly tried to retreat. But Lang Mo was fast. His saber strike, like one that could cleave mountains and break peaks, distorted the air. He showed no mercy.
Blood splattered. The girl collapsed to the ground, her body cut in half horizontally. If Lang Mo hadn't held back, she would have likely been bisected on the spot.