Chapter Eighty: Reunion with Li Chengbin

Qin Sheng immediately noticed Qin Mengchun and Guo Ting at the center of the crowd. Naturally, Jiang Miaomiao and Ah Di beside her also spotted the pair.

“When did those two start hanging out together?” Jiang Miaomiao asked Qin Sheng, her tone full of confusion.

Qin Sheng wasn’t surprised at all. She knew her younger sister Qin Mengchun’s personality better than anyone. Coincidentally, Guo Ting had a history with her, and Qin Mengchun would jump at the chance to cozy up to Guo Ting.

“What’s so strange about it? Birds of a feather flock together. Aren’t Qin Mengchun and Guo Ting two peas in a pod?” Ah Di shook her head, speaking with undisguised disdain.

Jiang Miaomiao thought about it and agreed, dropping the topic and turning her attention fully to the selection tournament.

Ah Di, from the moment she entered, had been quietly praying for an easier opponent today, or at least someone with decent character—so that even if she wasn’t chosen, she wouldn’t have to suffer too much.

“Praying won’t help you. If you don’t have the skills, you shouldn’t come here and embarrass yourself,” came a sarcastic female voice from behind just as Ah Di clasped her hands together, immediately annoying her.

She spun around and retorted, “What does it matter to you if I pray or not? Do you live by the sea? Mind your own business.”

Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao turned toward the commotion, surprised to find a familiar face. Guo Ting, who had just been chatting confidently with Qin Mengchun, had somehow ended up behind Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng’s height and build were similar to Ah Di’s; Guo Ting must have mistaken Ah Di for Qin Sheng and jumped in without thinking.

Guo Ting was visibly startled when Qin Sheng turned around, but quickly masked it, reverting to her usual arrogant demeanor. She scoffed, “Well, I didn’t expect you lot to still be alive.”

Ah Di, who couldn’t stand people with foul mouths, frowned and fired back, “Of course I’m alive. How else could I watch your circus?”

Qin Sheng chuckled softly, ignoring Guo Ting’s question. She hadn’t forgotten who had set her up and made sure she and her friends went hungry, even sending her uncle Guo Jun after her. Yet he’d gotten nothing for his trouble.

“You!” Guo Ting was taken aback by Ah Di’s sharp tongue, unable to think of a comeback. Jiang Miaomiao, seeing Guo Ting, couldn’t help but recall her uncle’s disgusting face, making her grimace in discomfort.

“Is there anything else? If not, please leave. You’re distracting us,” Ah Di said, rolling her eyes so hard they nearly reached the back of her head. Guo Ting, oblivious, continued to stand her ground.

If today weren’t tournament day, Ah Di’s temper would have had Guo Ting crying for days.

Guo Ting was enraged by the remark. “How am I distracting you? Is this your territory?”

Ah Di rolled up her sleeves, her lips curving into a charming smile that belied her words. “Not really, but I can’t help but roast you.”

“You!” Guo Ting was so furious she couldn’t speak, glaring at Ah Di and shouting, “Just you wait! If I face you, I’ll beat you so badly you’ll beg for mercy!”

With that, she shot Qin Sheng a glare and stormed off.

“Tch.” Ah Di acted as if she hadn’t heard Guo Ting’s threat, still looking casual—though her clenched fists betrayed her nerves.

Qin Sheng noticed Ah Di’s tightly clenched hands and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, her lips curling in encouragement. “Don’t be nervous. Trust yourself. If you meet her, just fight.”

She gave Ah Di’s shoulder a little pat. Ah Di nodded, comforted by Qin Sheng’s support, and felt her anxiety ease.

It was only a fight or two; she wasn’t nervous at all.

Thinking this, Ah Di took a deep breath and released her grip, noticing a fine sheen of cold sweat on her palm.

Jiang Miaomiao, seeing Ah Di relax, smiled helplessly and said nothing further.

Qin Sheng, meanwhile, felt a persistent gaze on them and frowned cautiously. Amid the bustling crowd, she pinpointed the intense, almost sleazy gaze—it was Guo Ting’s uncle, Guo Jun.

That gaze was fixed on Jiang Miaomiao, who was nervously preparing for the tournament.

Qin Sheng smirked coldly to herself. Looks like she had something to do.

“The selection tournament begins!”

Once the announcement was made, Qin Sheng and the others participating lined up with their teams.

“Time to draw lots.”

Two teams, nearly five hundred people. Each quickly received their numbered badge.

As luck would have it, Qin Sheng drew number one.

She gripped her badge tightly, awaiting the draw.

The first match was straightforward: the entire group split into two teams, each person drawing lots to pick their opponent for the day.

“Number one versus number eight.”

The staff announced the first matchup, calling out to the crowd, “Number one and number eight!”

“Who are number one and number eight?”

“First match—so tense.”

“I heard a lot of the participants have trained in taekwondo, judo, and the like. We’re at a disadvantage if we haven’t learned anything.”

The crowd erupted in discussion after hearing the numbers.

“Number eight is actually Li Chengbin from Capital University!”

“I’ve heard of him—he’s the president of their taekwondo club. He’s trained for over ten years. Looks like number one is in trouble…”

“Ten years of taekwondo?”

“Lucky I didn’t draw him.”

The news that Li Chengbin had trained in taekwondo for over a decade caused a stir among those waiting, though curiosity outweighed concern.

Nobody knew who was unlucky enough to face him first.

Li Chengbin, the crowd favorite, confidently glanced at his girlfriend, Qin Mengchun. “Mengchun, wait for me—I’ll definitely win.”

Qin Mengchun blushed, squeezing his hand. “I believe in you, Chengbin. When you come back… you know…”

Li Chengbin, nearly overcome with excitement at her words, squeezed her hand and strode confidently toward the center of the ring.

Qin Sheng’s gaze fell on the specially constructed ring in the safety zone, and she shook her head. What a pity—the floor was made of sponge. Li Chengbin wouldn’t get to spend months bedridden.

“Who’s number one? Xingyu, is it you?” Jiang Miaomiao asked the group, thinking that Chu Xingyu, whose goal was to defeat Li Chengbin, might be the one.

Chu Xingyu raised his badge, ‘22’, and shook his head regretfully.

“I’m number one,” Qin Sheng said, rising and walking toward the ring.

Li Chengbin, brimming with confidence, watched the stage for his opponent. When he saw Qin Sheng approaching, his expression froze, his confidence evaporating, and cold sweat broke out on his palms.

He couldn’t let anyone see his anxiety. As Qin Sheng faced him, he smiled and greeted her, “Qin Sheng? Didn’t expect it to be you. Long time no see…”

Qin Sheng responded with a polite, faint smile.

Seeing Qin Sheng uninterested in conversation, Li Chengbin awkwardly dropped his smile, not daring to glance at Qin Mengchun.

Qin Mengchun, noticing his lowered head, dug her nails into her palm in anger.

Useless—even incapable of meeting Qin Sheng’s gaze.

Qin Mengchun realized then that Li Chengbin had already lost.

If that was the case, he was of no use to her.

Her gaze shifted to the boy sitting beside Guo Ting.

“Do you know number one? With that presence and looks, she’s probably the top in this safety zone…”

“No idea…”

“Are you ready? One round decides the winner—do your best,” the staff said.

Qin Sheng smiled and nodded politely. “Ready, sister.”

Li Chengbin nodded as well.

“Good. The match begins in three, two, one… Fight!”

Qin Sheng stood still, making no move to attack.

Li Chengbin, aware of Qin Sheng’s skill yet hesitant to act, watched her immobile figure with uncertainty.

He’d seen Qin Sheng wield a Tang sword against zombies, but had never witnessed her true strength. Maybe she was only good with the sword…

With that thought, he gathered his strength and launched a sweeping kick at Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng had seen this move from Shen Mei before; she bent down and evaded it just as she had last time.

Their exchange marked the start of the match.

“Mr. Lu, who do you think will win, number one or number eight?” In the central control room above the ring, Lu Qingyan and the safety zone chief quietly observed the contest below.

Lu Qingyan remained calm and stern, his gaze falling steadily on Qin Sheng, who had only been dodging and never attacking.

The chief, a shrewd man, noticed Lu Qingyan’s focus on Qin Sheng.

“That young lady is quick, but she’s not attacking. Is she hoping to drain a grown man’s stamina?” The chief’s tone made it clear he doubted Qin Sheng could beat Li Chengbin.

“Hmph.” Lu Qingyan snorted, not bothering to answer.

After several exchanges, Qin Sheng had gauged Li Chengbin’s true ability.

He had clearly grown complacent from all the praise—and neglected his training.

His foundation was weak.