Chapter 1 Arrived, Jiang Xiao

"Here he is, Jiang Xiao." A middle-aged man's voice came from beside him.

"Huh?" Jiang Xiao reluctantly turned his gaze away from the field and looked at the person next to him.

"Ha, Leader, good morning." Jiang Xiao stood up and said with a smile.

"Sit." Wu Ji put a hand on Jiang Xiao's shoulder and pressed him back into his chair.

Jiang Xiao said, "Leader, you have good sources. I've only been watching for a short while."

Wu Ji waved his hand, "Forget the leader stuff, just call me Brother Wu."

Clearly, both Jiang Xiao and Wu Ji felt a sense of camaraderie.

Jiang Xiao was the type of person who "treats you tenfold for every inch of respect you give."

Wu Ji was not only the person in charge of the National Team's individual competition, but also a former wasteland reclamation soldier. Two years ago, when the Night Watch Army summoned Jiang Xiao for a mission, Wu Ji released him without a second thought.

That wasn't a big deal, since it was an order from above. But what moved Jiang Xiao was Wu Ji's attitude when he saw Jiang Xiao off.

How few are those leaders who curl their lips, act superior, and abuse their power? An average person wouldn't say, "Comrade, come back alive."

Of course, words must be spoken to the right person. Jiang Xiao and Wu Ji were obviously kindred spirits.

"You've been watching her. What do you think? Does she look familiar?" Wu Ji said with a smile, looking at the competition below.

At this moment, it was the final stage of determining the National Team's individual competition roster, the final advancement round of 18-to-9.

This year's individual competition selection didn't have the same tricks as the previous year. It was purely 1v1. If you're good, you advance; if you're not, you're out. It all came down to fists. Nothing else mattered.

Of course, compared to the World Cup's brutal elimination system, the National Team selection was more humane.

If you lose one match, fine, you get a chance to continue in the loser's bracket.

If you lose two matches, okay, you're unlucky, you can try again in the waiting group.

If you lose three matches... well, goodbye.

Jiang Xiao nodded lightly and said, "Familiar, very familiar. Her only flaw is that she's better looking than me."

Wu Ji: "......"

Jiang Xiao looked at the buzz-cut girl, who was wielding a giant blade, suppressing a Battle Warrior like a mad dog, leaving the opponent with no chance to fight back. Such a dominant battle didn't seem like a match in the final stage of the selection process, where the final roster was about to be determined.

Logically, the strength of the competitors should be similar at this final stage.

As the main person in charge, Wu Ji was naturally clear about his trainees. He understood Jiang Xiao thoroughly, knew Jiang Xiao's "mischievous" nature, and was trying to accept his way of chatting.

Wu Ji paused and said, "Have you noticed anything else?"

Jiang Xiao thought for a moment and said uncertainly, "To be honest?"

Wu Ji said with a smile, "Of course, tell the truth."

"Well..." Jiang Xiao's expression became serious. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "She uses my giant blade skills as a foundation, but at this point, she has completely broken away from the Xia family's saber techniques and created her own style."

"If I had to say she was mentored by someone, it definitely wouldn't be me, but rather the Ghost-Faced Monk."

Jiang Xiao licked his lips, as if he had seen a rare opponent, and looked eager to try. He continued, "Outsiders will think she's imitating me because there are relatively few Star Warriors in China who use giant blades, and I'm relatively famous. So when they see someone with a giant blade, they think they're learning from me."

"In reality, her blade techniques have nothing in common with mine. I don't know what her blade techniques used to be like, but in this match, she's just using the same weapon as me."

Hearing this, Wu Ji nodded thoughtfully. Although both were warriors with extremely high qualities and outstanding vision, Wu Ji was not an expert in the unique field of two-handed heavy weapons, especially giant blade techniques.

Wu Ji asked, "Can you be more specific? Give me a conclusion that an outsider can understand."

Jiang Xiao shrugged and said, "My blade, compared to hers, can be said to be very conservative. Her blade is purely for killing. Look at every subtle movement she makes. Her true stage is definitely not in the arena."

Wu Ji said softly, "I've chatted with Qingchen privately many times. She's been killing her way out from a horde of Ghost-Faced Monks these past few years. She can't change her style."

"Change?" Jiang Xiao was taken aback and turned to look at Wu Ji. "Why change? Don't stifle a warrior just because of a competition."

"Of course." Wu Ji said with a smile, "I didn't think so much in the past. I just wanted to reduce the casualties of the trainees. As you said, every opponent who has fought her has completely lost the ability to fight. Fortunately, our selection competition's medical staff is excellent."

Jiang Xiao turned to look at the arena and saw the tense medical team outside the shield.

Wu Ji sighed and said, "She comes from a Central Plains martial arts family. She's been practicing martial arts since she was a child, and her talent is terrifying. Her parents are both Agility Warriors, both Battle Warriors. Her family thought she had the potential to become an Agility Warrior Star Warrior, but they didn't expect that she would really awaken a Star Chart, but it was a medical Star Chart."

Jiang Xiao "Mm"ed and continued listening. Since Wu Ji was starting to tell a story, Wu Ji should be about to take action.

Wu Ji continued, "In high school, she stifled her talent and became a mediocre medical support, becoming a team commander, standing behind the team and protecting her team. Although not outstanding, she was qualified enough."

Wu Ji put an arm around Jiang Xiao's shoulder and said, "Your appearance is like a savior to her."

Jiang Xiao scratched his head embarrassedly.

Wu Ji said, "Don't be like that. I'm telling the truth. In 2017, a medical Star Warrior was born and stood at the top of the world. At the same time, the appearance of this medical practitioner liberated a group of medical Star Warriors who were bound by the rules, and liberated a group of warriors who were forcibly suppressing their talents."

Jiang Xiao: "......"

Wu Ji: "Yi Qingchen is just the most outstanding one of them. Do you know how many medical Star Warriors have signed up for the National Team's individual competition this year?"

Jiang Xiao thought to himself, *guilty, guilty...*

Wu Ji said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do about it. China's education system is like this. The rules of the college entrance examination are here, and the teachers' training methods are here. Everyone knows what kind of method to use to train what kind of profession. This is the rule, and it is also the tradition."

As he spoke, Jiang Xiao leaned back slightly, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but grin under his mask.

Because Jiang Xiao saw a more exciting scene.

On the battlefield below, Yi Qingchen stabbed through her opponent's chest with a knife. That wasn't the end of it. Her subconscious action was to abandon the knife and step forward. Her right hand wiped from the side of her leg, and the cold dagger directly slashed towards her opponent's Adam's apple.

Whoosh...

A gust of wind swept through, and Yi Qingchen was blown away directly. A group of medical teams immediately went on stage. The appearance of the gust of wind was naturally the action of the medical team.

Yi Qingchen would never be the protagonist in a movie. The opponents were already dead, but she still had to finish them off? Still had to cut their throats?

If that was the case, how would the subsequent plot continue?

Give the villains a chance, let the villains shout "I'll be back"......

This Yi Qingchen, are these natural reactions of her body habits she developed killing among the Ghost-Faced Monks?

Wu Ji patted Jiang Xiao on the back and said, "Let me see what's different between you two?"

Jiang Xiao was stunned and turned to look at Wu Ji, "Personal request or leader's order?"

Wu Ji laughed heartily. "Leader's order. Today, Brother Wu will show off his authority. If you win against her, you'll be the captain of the National Team."

Jiang Xiao looked embarrassed and said, "I have to run around, if I become the captain..."

Wu Ji interrupted Jiang Xiao directly, "Win against her first."

On the green field, the medical team carried the injured away, healing them frantically.

Yi Qingchen wiped the blood off her face expressionlessly, picked up the giant blade that had fallen on the ground, and walked out of the green field. The trainees who were watching the battle at the scene kept a respectful distance from her, and some were even very dissatisfied with her.

This was just a competition, and it was still an internal competition of the National Team. Although there might be life-and-death battles, every time Yi Qingchen went on stage, it was bound to be a life-and-death battle......

Yi Qingchen also knew that she was not welcome, but since she had chosen to take this path despite the pressure, she would not easily change her style.

Swish!

A figure suddenly appeared behind Yi Qingchen.

Yi Qingchen's eyes widened suddenly. Her subconscious reaction was to kick back sideways.

However, her reaction was extremely fast, and her confident blow missed.

Yi Qingchen frowned and turned to look, but saw a "fully armed" young man standing 10 meters away.

The young man was dressed in gaudy clothes, wearing a hoodie and sweatpants printed with panda graffiti. The baseball cap under the hood was pressed very low, and he was also wearing a mask.

Jiang Xiao waved to the participating players in the audience and said in a muffled voice from the mask, "Cut in line."

Jiang Xiao's wave allowed him to see a few acquaintances: Northern Military Academy's Wu Haoyang, Imperial Capital Star Warrior's Ying Xi, and Liu Yang.

He only knew these juniors, most of the others were probably seniors.

It seemed that the success rate of entering the national competition in high school was really not low?

Excellent, let us meet again!

Jiang Xiao couldn't help but praise himself...

"You, you... you are..." Yi Qingchen's surprised voice came from not far away.

Jiang Xiao smiled and nodded to her. Unfortunately, the smile was hidden in the mask. He took a closer look at his opponent and nodded secretly.

She was tall and slender, with long arms and legs. Her physical talent was visible to the naked eye. It was indeed a waste not to be an Agility Warrior. And her delicate face was worthy of her ethereal name. If she had long hair and wore long clothes, she would be very beautiful.

After sizing up his opponent, Jiang Xiao turned his head and gestured to a giant blade leaning against the third row of seats. That should be Yi Qingchen's spare weapon. He said, "Niu Yang, throw that giant blade over here."

The audience members looked at each other, not knowing who Jiang Xiao was calling.

A few seconds passed, and no one moved. Some trainees were unhappy. Where did this troublemaker come from? Was he scolding people here? Calling us cattle and sheep?

Jiang Xiao said to Wu Haoyang, "Okay, okay, beast, hurry up and throw the knife over here. It's getting awkward!"

Wu Haoyang's face darkened. He stood up, walked over quickly, picked up the giant blade, and threw it over from afar.

Jiang Xiao turned sideways, and grabbed the hilt of the giant blade that was stabbing at him with a wave of his hand, divinely catching Wu Haoyang's resentful blow.

The participating trainees in the audience saw such a movement, and discussions arose.

"Damn, is he... Pi God!?"

"Is it really him? The figure does look more and more like him?"

"Oh, Li Gui met Li Kui today, haha!" (Li Gui and Li Kui are characters from the novel Water Margin. There was an imposter Li Gui, and the saying means that an imposter has met the real deal.)

"Finally, someone can cure that crazy woman!"

On the green field, Jiang Xiao swung the blade a few times, looked at the steel giant blade from left to right, and weighed it up and down, feeling that the weight was not bad.

Ten meters away, Yi Qingchen lowered her head slightly, fiddling with her blood-stained fingers, looking a little nervous, and said softly, "Pi, Pi God... hello."

Jiang Xiao: ???

Yi! Qing! Chen!

What are you being shy about?

You just killed someone!

Uh... well, if you can save them, it doesn't count as killing, but your state...

The scene in front of him had exceeded Jiang Xiao's imagination. He thought that a person who had killed their way out of the Ghost-Faced Monks after more than two years of seclusion should be abnormal, at least a little morbid, right?

You're aloof, you're arrogant, you're proud, you're withdrawn... whatever you are is not too much, I'm ready to argue with you, but you're being shy and coy as a fan girl?

What kind of divine development is this?

Is your heart so tough?

I killed my way out of the White Ghosts, and I still look lifeless!

You killed your way out of the Ghost-Faced Monks, and you're still so healthy? Shouldn't you be grinning like the Ghost-Faced Monks?

Jiang Xiao carried the giant blade and pointed it at Yi Qingchen from afar, "Come on."

Yi Qingchen bit her lip. Under her clean and neat buzz cut, was a delicate face stained with drops of blood. The picture was a little strange.

Her beautiful eyes looked at Jiang Xiao. Perhaps because she was a little nervous, her Mandarin just now had a hint of local accent: "Are we fighting or not? I want to talk to you about something."

Some people, are goddesses until they open their mouths...

Jiang Xiao scratched his head, imitating her accent, and said a half-baked Central Plains dialect: "Eee~ girl, what are you doing?"

Yi Qingchen: ???