Mo Guanguan was anxious—more anxious than she had been in a long time.
Her breathing was uneven, her brows tightly furrowed as she struggled to remain standing. Pain shot through her legs like lightning, each movement sending waves of agony through her body.
Yet none of that mattered to her right now.
What mattered… was Zhao Mu.
He had stepped forward for her.
And she couldn't just stand there and watch him get beaten.
But reality was cruel.
In her current condition, even standing upright was difficult, let alone joining a fight.
Helplessness gripped her heart.
Zhao Mu slowly straightened his body.
His gaze flickered briefly toward his left arm.
Pain.
Sharp, bone-deep pain.
It felt as though his arm might snap at any moment.
But—
It wasn't broken.
He could still fight.
Across from him, Tian Hu rolled his shoulders and stepped forward.
Each step was heavy.
Oppressive.
His tall, muscular frame loomed like a predator stalking its prey. There was a raw, overwhelming presence about him—one that came not only from strength, but from experience.
Combat Level 25.
A veteran of three years.
He had cultivated Elementary Combat Techniques and honed them through countless battles.
Compared to the rookies of the Entrance Trial—
He was on an entirely different level.
"Teaching a newcomer a lesson…" Tian Hu said with a faint smile, "…and letting you understand your weakness—is also part of our duty as Assistant Instructors."
His tone was almost casual.
But the pressure behind his words was suffocating.
Suddenly—
His expression shifted.
He glanced toward the mountain in the distance.
There, standing silently, was a woman.
Long black hair.
Cold eyes.
Watching everything.
Bai Meimei.
Vice Minister of the Discipline Inspection Department.
Tian Hu's throat tightened slightly.
Only now did he fully recall the rules.
This wasn't some street brawl.
Veterans could establish authority—but not through oppression.
Not through humiliation.
New recruits had to submit willingly.
Otherwise, the unity of Qingfeng Camp would collapse.
And that—
Was absolutely forbidden.
Zhao Mu flexed his injured arm.
Pain surged again—but he ignored it.
Instead, he stepped forward and spoke calmly.
"If interfering counts as breaking the rules," he said, "then your punch is my punishment."
His voice was steady.
Clear.
Then—
He raised it deliberately.
"The purpose of Qingfeng Camp is to help trainees grow—not to humiliate them."
His eyes locked onto Tian Hu.
"Especially when the other party is a woman."
"That kind of behavior… does not belong in training."
His voice carried across the field.
Loud enough for others to hear.
Including—
The observers.
Zhao Mu knew exactly what he was doing.
Instructor Xie Yingxue.
Bai Meimei.
They were watching.
Evaluating.
Scoring.
If Tian Hu went too far under their gaze, it would backfire on him.
But Zhao Mu also understood something else.
This matter—
Would not end peacefully.
Tian Hu stared at him for a moment.
Then—
He laughed.
Low at first.
Then louder.
"Heh… heh heh…"
"You've got some guts," he said, his eyes narrowing.
"Challenging an Assistant Instructor?"
"Did you really think things would end that easily?"
Zhao Mu didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward.
And spoke clearly.
"Then I challenge you."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
The entire field froze.
Challenge?
A trainee… challenging an Assistant Instructor?
And not just any instructor—
But Tian Hu.
Zhao Mu.
Battle Rank 3.
Against Combat Level 25.
Was he insane?
Zhang Biao burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! This kid never fails to surprise me!"
He slapped his thigh excitedly.
"I can't wait to see what happens next!"
Xu Zhixiong, however, shook his head.
"This is suicide."
Everyone knew the rules.
Hidden on the last page of the Qingfeng Camp Training Manual was a rarely mentioned clause:
A trainee could challenge an instructor.
If they won—
They would be exempt from punishment.
If they lost—
They would face severe penalties, including deduction of Training Points.
But in reality?
No one ever used it.
Because no sane person would.
And yet—
Zhao Mu had just invoked it.
Shao Han scoffed.
"That guy's crazy."
Beside him, Zhu Meng watched quietly.
"…No," he said softly. "That's courage."
"Regardless of the outcome… he deserves respect."
Shao Han sneered.
"Courage?"
"In my eyes, he's just trying to cling to a rich girl."
His gaze shifted toward Mo Guanguan.
"She's not ordinary."
"I've heard… she has connections to a powerful family."
"And he?"
"Just another opportunist."
His lips curled slightly.
"Let him get beaten."
Meanwhile—
Tian Hu stared at Zhao Mu.
Then—
He burst into loud laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"There's always someone like you."
"Thinking you're special."
"Trying to play the hero."
His expression turned cold.
"If you lose," he said, "all your Training Points will be deducted."
"And you'll accept any punishment I decide."
"Understand?"
Before Zhao Mu could answer—
Mo Guanguan shouted.
"Zhao Mu, stop!"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"This has nothing to do with you!"
"Leave!"
Her eyes were filled with urgency.
"You can still take first place!"
"Don't throw it away!"
Zhao Mu shook his head.
Calm.
Firm.
"I said I'd handle it."
"And I will."
He glanced at Tian Hu.
"And even if I wanted to leave…"
"He wouldn't let me."
Tian Hu smiled.
A cruel smile.
"Of course not."
He folded his arms, thinking briefly.
"Since you want a challenge…"
He snapped his fingers.
"Let's make it interesting."
"Dodgeball."
An Assistant Instructor tossed him a black leather ball.
It was slightly larger than a palm, but Tian Hu held it easily in one hand.
His fingers tightened around it.
"Prepare the field," he ordered casually.
Several instructors nodded and moved to set things up.
On the hillside—
Bai Meimei watched quietly.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Stop the others," she said.
"Let everyone watch."
"A good show deserves an audience."
Soon—
All trainees were gathered.
Even those who had been running stopped.
The field filled with murmurs.
Relief.
Curiosity.
Anticipation.
But when they saw Zhao Mu standing there—
And Tian Hu smiling like a predator—
One thought dominated everyone's mind.
He's finished.
Among the crowd—
Shen Moran watched silently.
Her gaze lingered on Zhao Mu.
"Still the same…" she whispered.
Her voice trailed off.
Because memories surfaced.
Back then—
When they were children.
Whenever danger appeared—
No matter how big the threat—
Zhao Mu would always step forward.
Always stand in front of her.
Always protect her.
That boy—
Hadn't changed.
He still acted the same way.
Still stepped forward.
Still fought for what he believed was right.
Only—
The person he was protecting now…
Was no longer her.
Shen Moran lowered her gaze.
A faint, complicated emotion flickered in her eyes.
"He never changed…"
"…only I did."
On the field—
Zhao Mu stood tall.
Despite his injuries.
Despite the overwhelming odds.
His eyes were steady.
Unwavering.
The challenge—
Was about to begin.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)