The Unyielding Shell and Hidden Intentions

“It was none other than the legendary [Night Tiger].”

From the spectator stand, Robin gazed in astonishment at the black-armored warrior on the training grounds, recognizing him as a renowned hunter who had once been active in the outer realms.

“That was Uncle Mo’s former moniker, famed for his fierce offensives and formidable close-combat prowess. Before his retirement, the number of aberrations he personally eliminated likely neared triple digits. Though his stamina and energy have naturally diminished with age, underestimating him now would lead to a crushing defeat.”

As an adult, Yao Jing found his earlier childish pique embarrassing. Having reconciled with himself, he too made his way to the spectator stand to observe the battle.

“Oh no, won’t Xiu Lan be in danger?”

Robin now worried for the ‘idiot’ in the arena, for the [Night Tiger]’s record and abilities were undeniably first-rate. Compared to him, even Yao Jing was merely a junior just starting out. It was startling to think such a formidable figure would willingly serve as a bodyguard.

“Don’t you worry.”

It was the brown-haired girl who replied, gently patting Robin’s shoulder to reassure her: “This is merely a spar. Uncle Mo knows his limits.”

Having said that, she watched the two figures in the arena with anticipation.

So…

‘Don’t disappoint me, Liu Yu.’

“Tsk, I couldn’t react at all.”

Only after being repelled some distance did Xiu Lan realize she had just been attacked by Mo Zhixing.

“What a strange sensation. I clearly struck you, yet it felt as if I hadn’t… Is it because of your clothes?”

Upon reviewing his memory, Mo Zhixing discerned that the moment his fist connected, Xiu Lan’s overcoat had flowed, deflecting his attack.

“Though I don’t know what kind of gear this is, allow me to test its limits for you now.”

With that declaration, the Night Tiger’s hands sprang forth a pair of claws, their sharp, cold gleam made all the more menacing under the arena lights. Bearing a chilling killing intent, the man advanced steadily towards Xiu Lan.

“Swish!”

The air shrieked.

‘If I can’t react, then…’

Xiu Lan stood her ground, enduring a direct claw strike before retaliating with a backhanded punch.

“Bang!”

The shadow-enhanced fist was intercepted by the remaining claw.

Their gazes locked as they each exerted their full strength.

“Woah!”

The clash of their fists saw the black-clad girl recoil a step. She stared blankly at her own hand, clearly astonished by her opponent’s immense power.

Mo Zhixing, however, was not one to let such a lapse in concentration go unexploited. He retracted his claws, surged forward, and with one hand seized Xiu Lan’s overcoat. Disregarding the shadow damage, he briefly gathered strength before launching the girl skyward.

“Boom!”

Flung by Mo Zhixing, Xiu Lan shot straight up like a rocket towards the zenith, the onlookers on the ground gradually shrinking into tiny black specks in her vision.

Immediately after, accompanied by a tremendous sonic boom, the hunter appeared above and to the right of Xiu Lan’s head.

‘So fast!’

The armored man’s incredible speed instantly brought to the girl’s mind Irina’s movements during stopped time.

Yet, there was no time for her to be surprised.

One hurtling upwards, the other descending, the black-armored warrior, at the precipice of their collision, channeled power into his right leg and delivered a savage kick downwards at the rocket-like Xiu Lan.

Plummeting faster than she had ascended, the girl’s form transformed into a shooting star, falling from the heavens to violently embed itself deep within the earth.

Had the space, forged by the [Gem], not been so exceptionally resilient, one might have wondered if that single strike could have pierced through the very world itself.

Even so, Xiu Lan remained utterly fearless. Relying on the seemingly boundless defensive capabilities of her shadow, she clambered out of the massive crater, using both hands and feet.

No sooner had she emerged, however, than a familiar figure met her with another kick, sending her tumbling back into the hole.

****

After this sequence repeated several times, the initially worried Robin grew accustomed to the sight, casually striking up a conversation with the brown-haired girl.

“I recall you are… Miss Wei? Is that correct?”

As the youngest member in the history of Dongchuan’s [Resolution Council], the brown-haired girl’s reputation resounded like thunder. From high officials to the elderly and infirm, all had heard of her deeds.

Yet, despite extensive media coverage, the focus invariably remained on her age, gender, appearance, and even her mentors, while her political achievements and capabilities were consistently glossed over.

This was not because she was an incompetent opportunist seeking fame.

In Villy’s eyes, it seemed more akin to biding her time and cultivating her strengths (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘taoguang yanghui,’ meaning to conceal one’s abilities and bide one’s time.).

After all, attaining such an unreachably high position at a young age, while her peers were still in school, was bound to invite criticism and censure.

It was better, perhaps, to temporarily settle down, accumulate experience, and naturally assume power once she was older.

Of course, this was merely Villy’s personal conjecture.

In such an intricate political landscape, where one move could affect the entire situation, individual thoughts and desires were often merely extensions of factional strife.

Miss Wei nodded, then countered with a question: “And how may I address you?”

“Call me Robin… just call me Villy.”

She habitually almost blurted out her online handle, but just before the words escaped, Villy suddenly remembered something—she had once used the username [Robin] to stir up trouble concerning [Miss Wei].

‘It was about the [Divine Race] incident, wasn’t it…?’

‘Ugh, though it was a chaotic free-for-all back then, with countless bloggers joining the fray, she was, at most, a minor figure with a modest following. Even if she cursed her daily, it shouldn’t have been taken to heart, right…?’

Still, fearing the slightest mishap, Villy pondered it over and ultimately gave her real name, knowing there was no point in hiding it anyway.

“Oh, so it’s Miss Villy. However, I believe I just heard the name of a certain online blogger…”

Miss Wei appeared thoughtful, her eyes behind her sunglasses fixated on Villy, scaring the wits out of her. Villy nearly believed she was about to be arrested on the spot for “spreading rumors.”

“Heh.”

Fortunately, the brown-haired girl did not dwell on the matter. With a soft chuckle, she moved past the topic:

“Might I ask, what is your relationship with that Xiu Lan… Mr.?”

“We’re classmates.”

Villy blurted it out instinctively. But the moment the words left her lips, she felt a pang of dread.

‘Classmates… classmates… Oh no, doesn’t this expose Xiu Lan’s identity!’

‘Those who play politics are truly ruthless!’

“Classmates, you say…”

A faint smile played on Miss Wei’s lips.

She was, of course, well aware of Villy’s identity: a student at Xuyang, and the famous online blogger [Robin].

She had once led an army of internet trolls across numerous forums to attack the proposals Miss Wei had overseen.

‘Though at the time I desperately wanted to tear this person limb from limb, now that we’ve actually met, I find I no longer have the heart for it…’

‘How could that be!’

Even today, Wei distinctly remembered how this woman had slandered her policies and attacked her character.

Had her position and public image not made direct action inconvenient, she would have long since arranged for this person to be seized and taught a proper lesson.

However, this time she had provided useful intelligence, so she would be spared for now.

“Here it comes!”

Yao Jing’s low shout interrupted the subtle power struggle between the two women.

Immediately after, a black sword-light burst forth from beneath the earth, and the shadow-enshrouded girl leaped from the deep pit, completely unharmed.

“It’s not over yet, Uncle! Don’t even think about running!”

Executing a graceful sword flourish, Xiu Lan once again challenged the hunter before her. Her overflowing confidence made it impossible to reconcile her with the person who had just been brutally beaten.

‘If one were to describe the battle with Xiu Lan, it would be…’

‘…utterly tedious.’

In his long career as a hunter, Mo Zhixing had never encountered such an adversary. Despite possessing immense power, she seemed like a disabled person with incomplete limbs, utterly incapable of performing at her true potential.

She fought by wildly flailing her fists without any discernible technique. A slight acceleration would leave her completely disoriented, and her extremely slow reaction time made her more akin to a stationary target; she was only barely noticed after he had stopped behind her for three seconds.

At this level, let alone fighting on a battlefield, she was far inferior to even an ordinary person.

Yet, such an enemy, whom he should have easily defeated, instead provided him with an utterly nauseating combat experience.

“Take this sword strike!”

With a slight tilt of his body, Mo Zhixing evaded Xiu Lan’s slash. Clenching his hand into a fist, he delivered a straight punch towards the girl who had closed in.

“Thud.”

‘Unfathomable defense…’

A blow capable of piercing an aberrant creature could only force her back a few steps. Her vibrant, energetic appearance made him briefly wonder if he truly was getting old.

While he could still unleash more powerful ultimate techniques, given previous experience, he didn’t believe they would penetrate Xiu Lan’s ‘turtle shell.’

“Hmph—”

‘Then, stalling is the only option.’

‘Stalling until she runs out of stamina and concedes.’

As a veteran hunter, resorting to such tactics against a junior made him feel a faint blush creep onto his face. But compared to the humiliation of a loss…

“Oh, is that all you’ve got, Uncle? Come and face me head-on!”

Another strike was evaded, and Xiu Lan expressed her displeasure.

For some reason, the man before her had abandoned his earlier aggressive fighting style, now darting around like a monkey, impossible to even graze. At this rate, who knew how long this would drag on?

In her sight, Mo Zhixing gracefully dodged her slashes, his relaxed demeanor making one wonder if he was merely out for a leisurely stroll.

‘Won’t that make me look utterly foolish?’

The thought of her awkwardness being ridiculed by the spectators made Xiu Lan shiver involuntarily.

‘In that case…’

‘I’ll use *that*.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll hold back.’

Shadow streamed into her left eye, and the world began to transform.

Until only one figure remained in her vision.

Then…

A sudden, inexplicable savagery surged within her.

‘Let all who obstruct me vanish!’

“[Eye of Sight: Slash]!”

Xiu Lan swung her Shadow Blade.