The fifth match was over almost as quickly as it had begun.
DING! DING! DING!
The crowd erupted into applause.
"And with that, the fifth match is concluded!" the referee announced, his voice carrying across the Colosseum. "A one-hour lunch break will now begin. All students and faculty are requested to proceed to the Grand Cafeteria."
The arena slowly emptied.
Within minutes, the halls of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were filled with students heading toward the dining hall.
The Grand Cafeteria — 13:10
Sizzle. Clink.
Chatter filled the enormous cafeteria.
Wooden tables and long serving counters filled with enough food to feed an army.
Behind one of those counters stood Spark.
He wore an oversized chef's hat and an apron covered in soup stains. His fake mustache twitched as he ladled stew into another bowl.
"Splat!"
"There. Soup."
The student stared at the overflowing bowl.
"Uh... thank you?"
Spark smiled without warmth.
"You're welcome, brat."
The student hurried away.
Spark muttered under his breath, "A dignified man reduced to serving soup to children..."
At another counter, several Tianshui students admired the selection.
"Wow. The Royal Academy certainly doesn't hold back."
One of the girls picked up a plate of glazed river fish.
"I suppose competing against them will be unpleasant."
She took a bite.
"...But I won't complain about the food."
Her companion nodded seriously.
"Agreed."
For the first time that day, the rival academies shared something in common. They were hungry.
Students from all six academies filled the tables, and for a while the rivalry of the arena gave way to the much more important business of eating.
The difference between the teams, however, was obvious.
The Blazing and Kamikaze students ate with refined manners, speaking between small bites and carefully handling their utensils.
The Royal Team looked as though they had been released from captivity.
Shi Mo was demolishing a mountain of rice.
Ye Feng had already finished his third plate of meat.
Osler was eating so quickly that Yu Tianheng finally reached over and pushed his bowl down.
"Slow down."
"I am slowing down."
"You swallowed that piece whole."
Osler paused.
Dugu Yan sighed.
"You people are animals."
"You just ate four plates," Ye Lingling quietly pointed out.
Yan froze. "That's different."
Across the table, Arthev continued eating calmly.
Unlike the others, he wasn't trying to consume everything in sight. He sat in his black substitute uniform, quietly working his way through a bowl of rice and vegetables.
That was when the whispers began.
"That's him."
"The one in black?"
"Yeah. Arthev."
"I heard from students, he's the reason the Royal Team changed."
"Really? He doesn't look like much."
"Apparently he's only a substitute."
"Then why does everyone keep talking about him?"
The whispers grew louder and louder, but Arthev just ignored them.
Yu Tianheng heard every word. His chopsticks stopped halfway to his mouth. Dugu Yan's eyes narrowed. Shi Mo slowly lowered his bowl. Ye Feng glanced toward the source of the voices.
"Don't," Arthev said quietly.
Tianheng looked at him.
"They're insulting you."
"I noticed."
"And you're just going to eat?"
"Yes."
Osler frowned.
"But they're annoying."
"That is not a crime."
Dugu Yan sighed.
"Unfortunately."
At another table, a young Blazing Academy student finally pushed his chair back.
His name was Huo Feng. He had lost his match earlier that morning and had been simmering ever since.
He looked toward the Royal Team.
"You there!"
The cafeteria gradually quieted.
But Arthev continued eating.
Which made Huo Feng frowned.
"The one in black. I'm talking to you."
Arthev lifted another spoonful of rice.
Huo Feng's expression darkened again.
"I heard stories about you. Apparently you're some kind of genius."
He walked closer.
"Funny. You don't look like one."
The Royal Team's expressions hardened.
Huo Feng stopped beside their table.
"I also heard you're not even a proper noble. Just some commoner who somehow wormed his way into the Royal Team through connections."
Crack.
Tianheng's chopsticks nearly snapped. Dugu Yan's eyes flashed green. Shi Mo slowly placed his bowl down. Ye Lingling's expression remained calm, but her gaze had become noticeably colder.
Osler immediately stood.
"Hey! Watch your mouth! You don't even know who....."
"Osler."
Arthev didn't raise his voice.
"Sit down."
"But....."
"Sit."
Osler grumbled and lowered himself back into his seat.
Huo Feng laughed.
"So that's it? You hide behind your teammates?"
Before he could continue, a calm voice came from behind him.
"That is quite enough."
The temperature in the cafeteria seemed to drop.Everyone turned to the source of voice.
Shui Bing'er had risen from the Tianshui table.
She walked toward them with measured steps, her expression calm, but the cold in her eyes left little doubt about how serious she was.
She stopped beside Arthev.
"Huo Feng," she said. "Guard your tongue."
Huo Feng's face changed.
"Captain Shui, I only....."
"You were attempting to provoke a member of the host academy."
Bing'er's voice remained perfectly composed.
"Whether he is a noble, a commoner, a substitute, or a captain is irrelevant. You are a guest here."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"Do not embarrass your academy because your pride was hurt this morning."
A murmur passed through the cafeteria. Even the Royal Team looked surprised.
Osler leaned toward Shi Mo.
"Did captain Bing'er just defend Arthev?"
Shi Mo grinned.
"Looks like it."
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, this just became interesting."
Tianheng quietly muttered, "Don't say anything."
"Why?"
"Because Arthev is going to handle it."
Dugu Yan glanced at Arthev.
"...Oh, this should be even good."
Huo Feng's face reddened.
"Captain Shui, you don't need to defend this..."
"I am not defending him. I am correcting you."
Bing'er interrupted.
That silenced him. For several seconds, Huo Feng stood there, visibly struggling between pride and common sense.
Then Arthev finally placed his spoon down.
He sighed then stood. The Royal Team immediately leaned back.
Osler whispered, "Here we go."
Shi Mo nodded solemnly. "May the heavens protect that poor idiot."
Tianheng rubbed his forehead. "He has no idea what's coming."
Arthev stepped between Huo Feng and Bing'er, then gave Huo Feng a polite bow.
"My most distinguished friend, allow me first to express my sincere gratitude for the considerable attention you have so generously bestowed upon my exceedingly insignificant person."
Huo Feng blinked.
"...What?"
Arthev continued without changing expression.
"I am deeply humbled that someone of your remarkable stature would devote such valuable time to contemplating my humble origins, my modest abilities, and the circumstances through which I came to stand among the Royal Team."
The cafeteria became increasingly silent. Several students exchanged confused looks.
Arthev folded his hands behind his back.
"Nevertheless, I must respectfully suggest that your considerable intellect might find more productive employment in preparing for your afternoon endeavors, rather than expending itself upon matters concerning a person you apparently find so unremarkable."
Huo Feng stared at him.
"...Huh?"
Someone behind him whispered, "Did he just insult him?"
"I think so."
"Are you sure?"
"No."
Even Bing'er looked slightly stunned. Then the corner of her mouth lifted.
Arthev gave Huo Feng another polite bow.
"To express my sentiment in simpler terms..."
He paused.
"Please leave me alone."
Silence.
Then Osler covered his mouth.
"Gods, that was beautiful."
Dugu Yan was struggling not to laugh.
Shi Mo whispered, "He actually did it."
Ye Feng nodded.
"He confused him into surrender."
Tianheng sighed.
"Classic Arthev."
Huo Feng opened his mouth.Closed it.Opened it again.
"Wait... were you insulting me?"
Arthev tilted his head.
"I would never presume to insult such an esteemed guest."
Huo Feng's eye twitched.
"Then what was all that?"
"A sincere expression of my deepest respect."
"..."
Huo Feng looked around desperately. Nobody seemed willing to help him.
From the Blazing Academy table, Huo Wushuang finally spoke.
"Huo Feng."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough authority to cut through the tension.
Huo Feng glanced back.
"Sit down. Now."
"But, Captain, he...."
"I don't care."
Huo Wushuang's expression hardened.
"You're a guest here. Don't cause trouble, and don't embarrass the Blazing Academy because you can't control your temper."
Huo Feng clenched his fists.
"But he insulted me!"
Huo Wushuang raised an eyebrow.
"Then learn to recognize when someone is making you look foolish."
A few Blazing Academy students lowered their heads, trying not to laugh. Huo Feng's face burned.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue again.Then he reluctantly exhaled through his nose.
"....Fine."
He turned away and returned to his table, dropping into his seat with an irritated thump.
Huo Wushuang gave him one final warning look.
"Eat."
Huo Feng grabbed his chopsticks.
"...Yes, Captain."
Bing'er remained beside Arthev. She looked at him for a moment. Then she laughed softly.
"I genuinely don't know whether that was brilliant or cruel."
Arthev picked up his bowl.
"Both are possible."
That made her laugh again.
-----
The Faculty Table
At the instructors' table, the atmosphere was considerably quieter.
Teacher Huo leaned toward Instructor Silas.
"So, Instructor Silas..."
Silas continued eating his plain rice.
"The Royal Team's physical foundation has changed considerably. Their strength, balance, endurance... none of it resembles their previous training."
Teacher Leng Qingxue glanced toward the student tables.
"Indeed. I am curious as well."
Silas adjusted his glasses. "Ah."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"It is quite simple."
Teacher Huo leaned closer.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Silas took another bite of rice.
"I consulted several imperial agricultural records."
Teacher Huo stared.
"...Agricultural records?"
"Naturally. The records contain detailed observations regarding the lifting, carrying, dragging, and stacking of heavy materials."
Teacher Huo's eyebrow twitched.
"I was asking about martial training."
"Yes."
Silas nodded. "And i was explaining it."
Teacher Huo stared at him. Teacher Leng covered the corner of her mouth. Teacher Huo wasn't amused.
"Are you telling me that you trained elite soul masters using farming?"
"Not exactly."
Silas pushed his glasses higher.
"We merely borrowed certain principles from it."
"Such as?"
"Lifting heavy things."
Teacher Huo's face went blank.
"...That's it?"
"There are also carrying heavy things and putting them down."
Teacher Huo slowly turned toward Qin Ming.
"Qin Ming."
Qin Ming had been quietly drinking tea.
"Hm?"
"Is he always like this?"
Qin Ming looked at Silas. Then at Teacher Huo.
Then back at Silas.
"Unfortunately."
Silas continued eating. Teacher Huo sighed.
"I give up."
Teacher Leng, however, wasn't laughing.
Her attention remained fixed on Arthev.
'He handled that confrontation without raising his voice, without revealing his strength, and without creating trouble for the academy.'
She glanced at Silas.
"And you expect me to believe you're merely a tactical analyst?"
Silas pushed his glasses up again.
"I am indeed merely a tactical analyst."
Teacher Leng narrowed her eyes.
"Of course."
Qin Ming quietly smiled into his tea.
He had learned by now that questioning Silas usually resulted in headaches.
--------
The Courtyard Path — 13:50
The lunch break ended, and the students began returning toward the Colosseum.
Bing'er deliberately slowed her pace.
Ahead, Arthev was walking alone beneath the shade of the trees.
She hesitated. Then she stepped away from her team.
"Arthev."
He looked back.
"Captain Bing'er."
She caught up with him, walking beside him. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she smiled.
"That was... a very unique way of handling a dispute. I don't think that boy has ever been spoken to with such extreme politeness before."
"It is hard to argue with someone when you do not understand what they are saying," Arthev replied. He looked at her.
"Thank you. For standing up."
"You helped me at the lake," she said, her eyes locked onto his.
"It was the least I could do."
They continued along the path. After a few moments, her expression became more serious.
She hesitated for a brief second, her fingers tightening around her uniform sash.
"Arthev... after the matches end today, at sunset,"
She hesitated.
"Could you meet me? Privately?"
"There are... some things about my Ice Phoenix that I'd like to discuss with you. Especially the control methods you mentioned."
Arthev studied her expression. There was no deceit in her eyes, only a quiet, soulful hope.
"All right. I'll see you there."
A small smile appeared on Bing'er's face.
"Good."
She walked a little faster, returning to her team before Yue'er could notice how far she'd fallen behind.
Arthev watched her go for a moment.Then he turned toward the Colosseum.
To be continued...