Facing Is Fate

The five military academies that had made it to the top eight were all present. In the VIP section, Jin Fang Taibai propped his chin on one hand and grumbled, "Damn, I really wish the commentators would give our Du'e a shout-out too."

"Didn't you always hate being randomly evaluated?" Li Muyi sat beside him.

"But what they said made sense." Jin Fang Taibai glanced at the five commanders inside the arena who were drawing lots in the competition pods, still feeling discontent. If only Li Muyi could go too.

By the quarterfinals, Sky Network had clearly stepped up their game. The previously drab virtual lottery venue had been transformed into a white hall, decorated with obvious care. Classical and elegant long tables bore hundreds of delicious dishes, surrounded by various flowers. Not far away, a small fountain featured a rotating angel statue playing a violin, and soothing music drifted through the hall.

This was way too flashy. The chief commanders were all clad in combat suits, looking utterly out of place here.

The three chief commanders from the Federation made their entrance, dressed to the nines. Especially Jia Xianglan, who went even more overboard than Shen Shouli had back in the trial period, strolling in wearing a tailcoat. He swept a glance over the Empire's commanders. "Didn't you know you can change clothes once you're in the pod?"

"No," Guan Chuanjun said, thoroughly annoyed by his attitude.

"Idiot. The hint was so obvious, and you still missed it." Jia Xianglan flashed a grin at Guan Chuanjun.

In truth, changing clothes wasn't important at all. Who cared about that during a competition? It was all too formalistic. After the draw, things would proceed as usual. But Jia Xianglan was the type to mock others for any tiny advantage, and only such a person could maintain that inexplicable sense of superiority at all times.

Guan Chuanjun was about to lunge at him when Xu Lingqu spoke up.

"The hint was indeed obvious, but how are you so sure the lottery scene would be this formal? What if we were in a prison or wilderness setting?" Xu Lingqu glanced at Jia Xiangying beside her, who also looked baffled. "Even the Sky Network's young miss can't predict it while competing, yet the young master of Sky Network seems quite familiar with all the mechanisms."

The implication was clear: she was accusing Jia Xianglan of cheating.

Jia Xianglan narrowed his eyes at Xu Lingqu. "That's because my sister has always been foolish. Father taught her many times, but she just couldn't remember."

Before Jia Xiangying could stride over to him, Xu Lingqu spoke first. "Your sister is here to draw lots, not to draw on you. If she doesn't mind, I can draw for her—both the lot and you."

She wasn't trying to defend the young miss out of righteousness; she simply found Jia Xianglan utterly insufferable.

Jia Xiangying halted mid-step, her pink eyes wide with disbelief. This was the first time someone had stood by her side and talked back on her behalf when she clashed with Jia Xianglan.

Scenes like this had played out countless times before, and every time, the result was only cold looks and lectures from her father. Yet Jia Xiangying kept getting provoked by Jia Xianglan's words again and again, because it wasn't her fault.

Her father could clearly see Jia Xianglan's little tricks, so why couldn't he stand by her just once? She was the innocent one, the one in the right.

A flock of white doves flew out from a painting in the hall, and the eight commanders on site randomly picked the small envelopes tied to their legs.

Xu Lingqu didn't pick—a dove landed directly on her hand, so she simply chose it.

Once all eight had made their selections, Sky Network immediately announced the bracket and draw results:

Upper half: Longyuan vs Zhicheng, Shaji vs Qingjun

Lower half: Lianda vs Cimei, Moye vs Dolanston

[Whoa, what a death draw for Moye—first Dolanston, then Lianda, and finally Qingjun or Longyuan in the finals?]

[Actually, every school is a death draw. Qualifiers had a bit of luck, but from here on, every match is a hard fight.]

[Oh man, Commander Xu just stood up for Jia Xiangying, and now they have to face each other.]

[Any old league fans still here? Dolanston and Moye are a destined rivalry—old opponents. But Moye fell off later. There was one season where the commanders of Moye and Dolanston got along really well, and everyone was shipping them to elope.]

[Haha, I remember that too. Moye and Dolanston go way back. It's been so long that it faded, but today's draw together is too thrilling.]

[Shaji is in for a rough one this time, and Cimei isn't far behind.]

...

The commanders were still in the lottery scene, and Jia Xiangying's emotions were complicated.

Xu Lingqu had just helped her rebut Jia Xianglan, and now Moye was about to face Dolanston in the next match.

"Regardless... thank you just now. During the match, let's have a wonderful, fair fight."

Xu Lingqu quickly made a shushing gesture at her.

Jia Xiangying was baffled.

"If you speak any louder, your brother might arrange the next map so we can't have a fair fight." Xu Lingqu's own voice wasn't lowered in the slightest, fully ensuring Jia Xianglan could hear what she said.

Jia Xianglan's face darkened even further beside them, and Jia Xiangying couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Xu Lingqu turned to look at her. "The more intensely someone reacts to a single remark, the more satisfaction it gives the provoker. They'll keep up the habit of needling over time, and the provoked person will end up in a state of heightened sensitivity to everything they casually say."

Jia Xiangying's sensitivity to Jia Xianglan wasn't caused by one or two remarks alone, but by the accumulation of unfairness over time, which made it harder and harder for her to convince herself to endure.

Jia Xiangying's smile faded. "Are you going to criticize me for falling for Jia Xianglan's provocation back then too?" Her fingers picked at the hem of her clothes. In truth, she meant to say that Xu Lingqu was spot-on, but the words came out as an aggressive counter-question out of habit—her mouth speaking before her mind caught up.

Yun Yao overheard and raised an eyebrow. Wasn't this young miss Jia being a bit ungrateful?

Gu Tingzhi just smiled. When it came to verbal sparring, Xu Lingqu never lost, whether intentionally or not.

Jia Xiangying also realized her mistake and was about to explain her intent when Xu Lingqu smiled.

"Yes, and I hope to use that to lead Moye to victory over Dolanston next. I hope you'll fall for my provocation too."

Guan Chuanjun's lips twitched as he listened from the side.

Xu Lingqu was still Xu Lingqu—she liked to sweep-fire at everyone, and one sentence could hit right where it hurt.

This time, the method for choosing the quarterfinal maps was selecting items from the long table.

When it was Moye and Dolanston's turn, Xu Lingqu and Jia Xiangying chose the candelabra on the table.

A line of text appeared before everyone.

Moye vs Dolanston: [Sin City]