Chu Tianxiong, unexpected by the double mockery he received, feigned ignorance to maintain morale. He called his four disciples, preparing to draw envelopes.
Similarly, Yang Lingxue gathered the younger contestants behind her for the draw. The audience held their breath, hoping for a favorable outcome for the Aicheng City representative team, yet also yearning to witness a spectacular showdown.
The atmosphere in the martial arts hall grew incredibly tense, as if at the center of a storm. Breathing felt like drawing air through an invisible, fine-grit sandpaper, each inhale and exhale causing the chest cavity to expand and contract like a bellows at a furnace mouth.
The contestants on both sides swiftly opened their envelopes, awaiting the fate to descend upon each of them. Would it be advancement to the semifinals, or an end to their journey? All of this, perhaps, was already predetermined by an unseen hand.
Yang Ye and the other young woman appeared outwardly calm, but inwardly, they were extremely worried. If luck was indeed a form of strength, both of them wished that the probability of winning the lottery could be spread equally among the four of them.
As the eight contestants, filled with excitement, apprehension, and nervousness, each opened their envelopes, the host Yue Ran and the chief judge meticulously compared the slips of paper from both sides. The results, amidst the suspended atmosphere, were finally revealed.
Yue Ran took the prepared, connected slips of paper, scanning the audience in all directions. After telling a joke to ease the tension, eliciting cheers and adoration from his enthusiastic fans, he then, with a dramatic shift in expression, spoke with solemnity, "Now, we begin announcing the match-ups. Oh my, everyone, I am actually more nervous than you are. If you don't believe me, you can all look at the sweat on my palms."
The spotlight appropriately shifted towards him. Indeed, his hands were glistening with fine sweat, and his somewhat effeminate face was also beaded with perspiration. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the sweat. Intending to tuck it back into his pocket, he then glanced at the frenziedly ecstatic fans. Instantly, he tossed the handkerchief downwards. The large group of female fans surged forward as if charging into battle, engaging in mock combat with shouts of war. That section of the stands, amidst the surging crowd, resembled a fragile, solitary boat, appearing to be on the verge of capsizing. To call it a bloodbath triggered by a handkerchief would be no exaggeration.
"Alright, now to announce the match results: Group One, Qin Yue versus Chen Hao. Group Two, Jiang Cheng versus Qi Yunyi. Group Three, Zhou Jun versus Gao Chenfei. Group Four, Xiao Chong versus Peng Lin!"
A subtle, chilling smile played on Yue Ran's lips.
This outcome was undeniably a disaster for the Aicheng City representative team.
"It's over, it's over. Setting aside Xiao Chong and Peng Lin for a moment, everyone has already seen Qin Yue's performance. He's an extremely aggressive attacker, and he also incorporates a certain degree of technical fighting style."
"Exactly. Jiang Cheng is even more formidable, with both offense and defense. Although his technique might lack a bit of refinement, facing Qi Yunyi, it’s bound to be a grueling battle."
"Zhou Jun and Gao Chenfei in the same group are also a clash of titans. Gao Chenfei excels at offense, with defense being a major weakness. Coincidentally, Zhou Jun is an ultimate offensive type. I fear the fight will conclude very quickly once it begins."
At this point, no one dared to discuss Xiao Chong and Peng Lin, as both had left an indelible impression on them during their previous bouts.
The former gave off an aura of hidden depth, like a deep, still well. The latter was agile and unpredictable, with extraordinary moves and immense talent. The sparks that would fly from their collision, it was said, would not be inferior to the confrontation between Leng Ziyu and Shen Lanni ten years prior.
They were unwilling to speculate, but rather harbored a pious devotion, anticipating that earth-shattering duel.
The area for the Aicheng City representative team was now enveloped in a deathly silence.
Although the hacker Ye Lan had managed to access classified data on those four individuals, as they examined the information, an unspeakable fear swept over them like a tornado.
The data indicated that the four had no discernible weaknesses. Moreover, during their matches against the Donglü City representative team, and even Xiao Chong's duel with Lin Feng yesterday, they had not displayed their true strength!
This meant that they not only held something back, but had held back a great deal. They possessed ample confidence to crush any obstacle in their path, and to find even a sliver of amusement during the competition, they had not exerted their full strength from the outset!
"How can there be such well-rounded contestants, and four of them at that? There must be something fishy going on, right, Ye Lan?" Yang Lingxue could no longer find suitable words to express her current feelings. If she were a man, she might have let out a few curses, but what good would that do?
They were, after all, Taekwondo gods capable of destroying heaven and earth, utterly invincible!
"I cannot provide an answer to such a question, as this is what the data states. Of course, there's always the possibility of exaggeration."
Ye Lan managed to find a reason, but it only earned her a round of eye-rolls. Ultimately, she herself did not believe this explanation.
"Alright, tell me, how are we supposed to fight this?" Yang Lingxue, clutching a bag of spicy chips, felt a rare lack of appetite.
Chen Hao hung his head, glancing at his own fatigued body. In the end, he hadn't even recovered his basic stamina. How could he possibly compete with his opponent?
He remained silent, and Gao Chenfei had no intention of speaking either. He was the closest to achieving black belt among them, and his opponent had likely already reached that level, simply lacking the inclination to get formally tested.
Qi Yunyi, however, had a sparkle in his eyes. Having reached this stage, he felt utterly spent. To continue fighting would only mean burning his own will, much like how Saint Seiya continuously burned his cosmos for hope and for Athena.
As for him, it was for an untouchable hope, and the absolute will instilled by his grandfather.
Indeed, some people in life, day after day, would lecture you, criticize you severely, and relentlessly impart words you couldn't understand, making your ears calloused. All this was so that when you encountered the situations they described, you would have a plan of action and wouldn't panic. Their haste to imbue you with their life experiences and knowledge was merely because their time was running short, and they feared they wouldn't be able to accompany you through your entire life.
Qi Yunyi's gaze grew increasingly fervent. That which was deeply hidden in his heart seemed to have finally ignited into a blazing inferno through certain scenes!
He extended his somewhat slender palm, palm open, his voice subdued yet brimming with passion, "Instead of worrying about this and that here, why not risk our lives and fight with all we've got? If you don't even dare to stake your life, what right do you have to say you deeply love Taekwondo?"
Qi Yunyi's words struck like a bolt of lightning!
Peng Lin was the first to place his hand over his, his tone also changed from before, subdued yet filled with an immeasurable passion, "You're right. The facts are laid bare before us. Further thought is just boosting the enemy's morale and crushing our own will. Who says we are just fish on a chopping block? We are sharp knives that have honed our edges!"