Chapter 168 Ling Luochen's Changes, Tacit Cooperation
"However!" Dai Huabin changed the subject.
"I need to make one thing clear first. The ultimate ice is not something I can give to whomever I want. It's very important that it resonates with one's own nature. Opportunity, opportunity, fate is very important."
That's not the case, of course, but Dai Huabin couldn't possibly give an answer so quickly.
Ling Luochen's expression changed slightly, and her tone carried a hint of anticipation:
"So..."
"Therefore, I cannot promise you anything."
Dai Huabin spoke frankly. "But I can tell you, Senior, that if a suitable opportunity arises in the future, I will not exclude you."
Ling Luochen lowered her head and thought for a while.
"That's enough," she said softly.
Dai Huabin looked at Ling Luochen with some surprise.
"I don't need you to make any promises to me now."
Ling Luochen raised her head again, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor.
"All I need to know is that you haven't turned me away. The rest... I'll prove with time."
Looking at her, Dai Huabin suddenly realized that this woman was smarter than he had imagined.
Be neither hasty nor impatient, neither humble nor arrogant.
This showed her stance without pushing herself into a corner.
She gave Dai Huabin face, but also left herself a way out.
"Okay." Dai Huabin nodded. "That's settled then, Senior. It's getting late, I should head back now."
Ling Luochen hummed in agreement.
Dai Huabin turned around and took a few steps. After that, he heard Ling Luochen's voice behind him.
"Hua Bin."
"Um?"
"Thank you for not giving me a perfunctory answer."
Dai Huabin didn't turn around, waved his hand, and continued walking forward.
Ling Luochen stood under the streetlight, watching his figure disappear into the night, and let out a long breath.
Her heartbeat had only now slowly returned to normal.
The conversation just now appeared calm on the surface, but Ling Luochen's back was already soaked with cold sweat. She took a gamble, betting that Dai Huabin wasn't the kind of hypocrite who put on a righteous facade.
At least she won the bet.
...
When Dai Huabin returned to his dormitory at the Foreign Academy, it was almost 11 o'clock.
He pushed open the door; the light was still on. Zhu Lu sat on the bed waiting for Dai Huabin. Hearing the door open, she looked up.
"You're back?"
"Hmm." Dai Huabin changed his shoes and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed.
Zhu Lu closed the book and put it aside, then leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder.
"How's the suppression of the evil fire going?"
"It's alright. I absorbed quite a lot today, so I won't need to suppress it for a while."
Zhu Lu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Dai Huabin said, "I ran into Ling Luochen when I came back."
"Oh," Zhu Lu responded, without any particular reaction.
"She expressed her opinion to me."
Zhu Lu paused for a moment, then resumed her normal movements.
"What stance did she take?"
Dai Huabin roughly recounted the conversation. Zhu Lu listened, remained silent for a few seconds, and then let out a soft hum.
"She's quite shrewd."
Dai Huabin laughed: "You're not happy?"
"No," Zhu Lu's voice was muffled. "It's your decision. I've said it before, as long as you have me in your heart, that's enough."
Dai Huabin reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.
"Don't worry, no one can replace you."
Zhu Lu didn't say anything, but she snuggled closer to him and settled into a comfortable position.
A short while later, Zhu Lu suddenly raised her head and looked intently at Dai Huabin.
"So, do you think she's pretty?"
"It looks pretty good." Dai Huabin didn't deny it.
Zhu Lu stared at him for two seconds, then buried her face back in his chest and muttered, "Hmph, men."
Dai Huabin chuckled and didn't reply.
That night, the two slept in each other's arms.
...
The next morning.
The Inner Court Battle Arena is where daily joint training takes place.
When Dai Huabin arrived, the main team players were already warming up.
Ma Xiaotao was in much better condition today; her complexion was rosy, and her movements were brisk. The effect of suppressing the evil fire was immediately apparent.
Seeing Dai Huabin come in, Ma Xiaotao gave him a thumbs up from afar.
Dai Yueheng was stretching nearby. He glanced at the interaction, frowned, and said nothing.
Zhu Lu followed behind Dai Huabin, while Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Ning Tian were also beside Dai Huabin.
"Is everyone here?" Du Weiren stood on the sidelines, holding today's training schedule in his hand.
"Where is Xue Qingyao?" Ma Xiaotao looked around.
"She's not coming today," Dai Huabin answered for Xue Di.
Ma Xiaotao simply said "oh" and didn't ask any further questions.
Whether Xue Qingyao came to training or not had always been decided by Dai Huabin, something everyone was used to.
The main reason was that Xue Qingyao's strength was simply too great; training could not fully demonstrate her power.
Du Weiren announced today's training schedule: the main team and reserve team would be mixed and matched, with the original lineups disrupted and reassembled. The aim was to allow members of both teams to familiarize themselves with each other's fighting styles and prepare for the major competition.
When the teams were divided, Ling Luochen was assigned to Dai Huabin's side.
She walked over and stood beside Dai Huabin, expressionless, a stark contrast to the woman who confessed her feelings under the streetlight last night.
Dai Huabin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but Ling Luochen didn't look at him; she simply waited quietly for the training to begin.
Cui Yajie leaned close to Zhu Lu's ear and whispered something:
"Why does it seem like Senior Ling Luochen is standing much closer today than she was yesterday?"
Zhu Lu said expressionlessly, "You've mistaken me for someone else."
Cui Yajie raised an eyebrow and wisely shut her mouth.
Training officially began.
In the first round of the mixed team competition, Dai Huabin's team consisted of himself, Zhu Lu, Ling Luochen, and Ning Tian. Their opponents were Dai Yueheng, Ma Xiaotao, Wang Dong'er, and Xiao Xiao.
Four against four, a good balance of offense and defense.
At Du Weiren's command, both sides moved simultaneously.
Ma Xiaotao took the initiative, releasing her Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit and activating her second Soul Skill, Phoenix Reborn in Flames. She was enveloped in flames and charged straight at Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin did not retreat. He activated the Ice Soul White Tiger and instantly maximized his third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation.
But just as Ma Xiaotao was halfway there, the air beside her suddenly froze.
A halo of ice-blue light rose from the ground, cutting off Ma Xiaotao's path.
It was Ling Luochen.
Third Soul Skill: Ice Prison.
Ma Xiaotao was forced to change direction, and the flames collided with the ice prison, emitting a piercing screech.
Although Ling Luochen's ice-type Soul Skill could not truly trap Ma Xiaotao, who was a level 67 Soul Emperor, this delay was enough for Dai Huabin to complete his charge.
Dai Huabin and Ling Luochen exchanged a glance.
They worked well together.
Ling Luochen nodded slightly, then released her fourth Soul Skill, Ice Mist Cold, enveloping the battlefield in a white mist.
This was the first time she had actively coordinated with Dai Huabin's rhythm during training.
Zhu Lu darted about at high speed on the flanks, while the afterimages of the Ice Shadow Cat weaved through the mist. Ning Tian steadily unleashed a triple boost from the rear: Strength, Speed, and Soul, the light enveloping Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
On the other side, Wang Dong'er unfolded the wings of the Goddess of Light Butterfly and took to the air, attempting to survey the situation in the fog from above.
Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron hovered in front of her, ready to defend at any time.
Dai Yueheng immediately activated the White Tiger Vajra Transformation, forced his way through the icy mist, and charged towards Dai Huabin.
The two met in the icy fog.
Dai Yueheng unleashed a punch, and the White Tiger Light Wave tore through the ice mist.
Dai Huabin dodged to the side, gathered the power of ice in his right hand, and slapped Dai Yueheng's shoulder armor.
The chill of the ultimate ice instantly penetrated, and Dai Yueheng's right shoulder muscles stiffened for a moment.
"Here we go again!" Dai Yueheng roared, unleashing his soul power to force back the chill.
But in that instant, an icy blue chain shot out from the mist and precisely wrapped around Dai Yueheng's right ankle.
Ling Luochen's first Soul Skill was the extended control of the Ice Staff.
Dai Yueheng paused, and Dai Huabin's second strike had already arrived.
This time, Dai Huabin did not use his full strength; he merely pushed Dai Yueheng three steps away.
It's just training; we'll stop here.
But this scene had a different meaning in everyone's eyes.
Ling Luochen's cooperation was precise, timely, and seamless.
Ma Xiaotao broke free from the flames, glanced at the battlefield situation, and raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
How come Ling Luochen, who barely interacted with Dai Huabin yesterday, was suddenly able to cooperate so well today?
Ma Xiaotao glanced in Ling Luochen's direction, then looked at Zhu Lu.
Zhu Lu's expression remained as indifferent as ever, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
But Ma Xiaotao always felt there was a story behind this.
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[end of the chapter]