Jiang Qing'e's question was an unwelcome sting. Lu Qing'er scowled prettily. “Did she have to pull this card now?” To her, the engagement between Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo was one in name only. On the contrary, she would be more worried if the engagement was annulled. But her woman's instinct was telling her that their current relationship was deep but not romantic.

Close? They definitely were. Their trust in each other was absolute, but it always looked like Jiang Qing'e was taking care of her little brother.

That was why Lu Qing'er felt the engagement should not exist.

If it were not there, she would have openly chased Li Luo a long time ago. They might even be together already. She might even be able to speak openly to the sisterly Qing'e about it.

Lu Qing'er recovered quickly. "Li Luo did very well," she said sweetly. "Senior Jiang has a wonderful little brother."

Jiang Qing'e's amusement did not fade. She was in an excellent mood, and she had to acknowledge Lu Qing'er's bravery in challenging her. "No need to be envious. You're Li Luo's good friend as well."

“Good friend.” Those two words packed a powerful punch.

Lu Qing'er's smile was painful to hold.

The girls were not speaking loudly, but Bai Mengmeng was still close enough to hear. She smiled at both of them, and inwardly gave Lu Qing'er a big thumbs up. Just about no one had the guts to take on Senior Jiang. It was a pity that Lu Qing'er wasn't strong enough. If she had a bit more firepower to pose a threat, perhaps they could test Senior Jiang for real. While she was intrigued by the "friendly" atmosphere here, the mood over at the Blue Abyss Sage College was much darker.

Zhao Huiyin included, all of them were staring out at the lake, dispirited. All the excitement had leached out of them.

This was not the result that they had hoped for.

"Damn it all!"

Zhao Huiyin slapped the railing emphatically. "How did we lose?!" 

Zhong Nan sighed. "Li Luo is harder than he looks."

"Which we planned for in our calculations!" Zhao Huiyin shouted.

Lu Cāng was their ultimate secret weapon, and he had been used to full effect. And still they had lost. What more was there to say?

Zhong Nan laughed bitterly. There was nothing they could do about it. They were weaker. That was all.

"The Astral Sage College's foundation is stronger than the Blue Abyss Sage College's. If not for their weak Two Star Hall, we might not even have made it to that last round," Zhong Nan pointed out. Zhao Huiyin gnashed her teeth. She still could not accept the outcome. Victory had been so close.

She stared out at the lake, thoughts stormy. “Li Luo. He is... he is…”

She yelled her frustrations out, voice echoing over the gray lake.

Li Luo was just defending his school's glory. They were opponents, fair and square. He had not done anything wrong.

Still, he was a surprising one for sure.

She recalled her conversation with Jiang Qing'e. When she asserted that Lu Cāng would beat Li Luo, Jiang Qing'e had told her that she wouldn't be the first to underestimate him. And now Zhao Huiyin herself had joined that group.

"Truly, no common pleb can become Jiang Qing'e's fiance," Zhao Huiyin thought to herself.

She had sensed some talent in her encounter with Li Luo, but nothing compared to the monster that Jiang Qing'e was. They looked incompatible on so many levels, besides their equally good looks.

But at the conclusion of this epic battle, Zhao Huiyin was forced to change her opinion.

No matter what he had used at the bottom of the lake, Li Luo had proved his ability for sure.

The rest was unimportant. The Blue Abyss Sage College had lost.

Zhao Huiyin stretched lazily, her curves pressing up against her clothing on both front and back. “Forget it, a loss is a loss. Li Luo. I'll remember you. And I'll see how far you can get at the Holy Grail Meet.”

...

On the highest platform, the atmosphere was equally stilted.

The elders of the Xia Kingdom were brooding about the smiling young man below. He reminded them of two familiar personalities.

Two personalities that had troubled them greatly in the past.

So greatly that they had basically been squeezed and strangled by the power of the pair.

Zhu Qinghuo, Duze Yan, and the others kept their expressions carefully masked.

"Like father, like son," House Jinque's Si Qing finally said. "We have underestimated that old adage."

No one replied. Even Zhu Qinghuo and Duze Yan had to admit that much. They had underestimated this young lord for too long. To be fair, they had had their hands full dealing with Jiang Qing'e. And with her around, who would pay any attention to a once-blank palace young lord?

Still, hindsight was now slapping them in the face. The overlooked young lord was a dragon in disguise.

Perhaps still not as strong as Jiang Qing'e, but a formidable foe nonetheless.

"Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan are really lucky—they have such great heirs for House Luolan," Zhu Qinghuo said.

Duze Yan's eyelids drooped downwards in thought.

Yu Hongxi was immune to their commiseration. She did not intend to participate. The Golden Dragon Bank was always neutral, and she was not about to change that.

Clap, clap!

The sudden applause from a single pair of hands made them all turn around. It was the little emperor. "The Astral Sage College represents the Xia Kingdom. Li Luo's win today has made him a hero not just of the school, but for all of us," he said with a bright smile.

Zhu Qinghuo gave a sour smile.

"Indeed, it is as His Majesty says," the Regent smiled broadly. "Li Luo is a real talent in the Xia Kingdom. When he and Jiang Qing'e grow up, I daresay we will have two new Dukes."

The elders nodded and forced smiles. They had to be happy for the kingdom, but not for themselves.

Vice Principal Su Xin stood up, turning to Vice Principal Qiu Jizi. "Our apologies, Vice Principal Qiu," she said with a sincere smile. "We are the hosts, but this time we are unable to send you off with a smile on your face."

Qiu Jizi sighed. "Vice Principal Su Xin, you are too courteous. The Blue Abyss Sage College is not as strong as your school. We have no one to blame but ourselves."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, then Su Xin turned to the crowd, her voice carrying clearly to the furthest corners.

"Our highest commendations to the seven Astral Sage College representatives. They have acquitted themselves well and brought glory to the Astral Sage College. At the same time, we thank the Blue Abyss Sage College's seven representatives for the spectacular competition that they have brought us. We will carry their ambitions with us to the Holy Grail Meet.

"And with this, I declare the Holy Grail Meet ticket match concluded."