C40 Didn't You Just Covet Lee Zi?!

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

The instructor's gaze landed on Zhu Yu, and his brow furrowed ever so slightly.

Before, it was impossible to gauge his emotions from his expression, but now, his face betrayed his impatience.

"Zhu Yu, do you have any objections?"

Had it been any other student, the instructor might have already put them in their place.

But Zhu Yu was no ordinary student. His family was among the most influential in all of Redmarsh.

It's important to remember that this is Redmarsh!

The families that thrive here are far from ordinary.

With a slight smile, Zhu Yu glanced at Chu Yi, his eyes tinged with a hint of scorn.

"Teacher, I object."

You object?

The instructor paused, then a realization dawned on him.

He was once in the same group as Lee Zi!

Indeed, Lee Zi and Zhu Yu had been in the same group, a position Zhu Yu had secured through his connections.

Zhu Yu wasn't coveting the spot Lee Zi had vacated; he was fully confident in his own safety.

Being in the same group as Lee Zi was simply a strategic move to gain an advantage.

But now, with Chu Yi's emergence, Zhu Yu sensed a threat.

He knew Chu Yi far better than the others; at one point, Zhu Yu had considered him his biggest rival for Lee Zi.

If Chu Yi hadn't been so unremarkable, save for his good looks and his childhood spent with Lee Zi, his past few years might not have been so uneventful.

But now...

Though Zhu Yu didn't know how Chu Yi had become a warrior, he was certain it was true.

He was well aware of who Lee Guoqiang was—a man who would never compromise his principles.

At this moment, Zhu Yu felt a surge of urgency.

A Chu Yi without any cultivation talent was one thing, but a Chu Yi on the path of a warrior was an entirely different level of threat.

Zhu Yu's earlier attempt to dismiss Chu Yi was not only to eliminate any potential danger at its inception but also to gauge Lee Zi's reaction.

And Lee Zi's response had been telling...

Zhu Yu realized he could no longer afford to wait. He needed to assert his dominance.

The mentor gazed at Zhu Yu, lapsing into silence once more.

Hmm, Zhu Yu was opposed, while Lee Zi was in favor...

Now, it was time to see what the other team members thought.

Clearly, with Lee Zi on one side and Zhu Yu on the other, the remaining three members were unsure of what to say.

On one hand, there was a student with boundless potential, and on the other, a young prodigy with impressive talents and influential support. They were torn between the two.

Against anyone else, they wouldn't have hesitated, as they were seen as Zhu Yu's sidekicks in the eyes of outsiders.

But now, they faced the challenge of confronting Lee Zi directly!

This left the three students unsure of how to proceed.

In light of this, then...

Silence ensued.

All three team members opted for silence simultaneously.

Zhu Yu's brow furrowed slightly, and Lee Zi once again broke the silence.

"If that's the case, then..."

Lee Zi stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"I want to form a team with Chu Yi. Who among you is willing to join?"

Her words sparked visible excitement among many students, ready to seize the opportunity.

Truth be told, Seventeenth High School's reputation was widespread across Redmarsh, renowned as a premier high school.

The school was a hub for many young talents, some with backgrounds no less distinguished than his own.

While the average students might be wary of him, there were those who were not intimidated.

"Hold on a second."

With a smile plastered across his face, Zhu Yu hurried forward to intercept Lee Zi.

He realized that if things continued this way, his situation would only worsen.

"Lee Zi, you know that's not what I meant."

Lee Zi's gaze was frosty as she looked at Zhu Yu, who could only offer a wry smile. "Truthfully, my acting the villain isn't solely for my own sake."

"Consider this, no one knows the extent of Chu Yi's abilities. If we rashly let him join..."

"Yes, your protective teacher can certainly ensure safety, but what about the final outcome?"

Outcome?

Lee Zi paused, taken aback, while Zhu Yu had already launched into his plea.

"What's the purpose of our training? Beyond gaining experience, isn't our ultimate aim to achieve a good result and secure the final reward?"

Since it was a trial, there was bound to be a final ranking, and with rankings came rewards.

However, the rewards were quite modest.

All the students understood that the true purpose of the trial was to gain experience; the so-called rewards were secondary.

Yet, in that moment, no one spoke up to challenge this notion. For one, there was no point in needlessly offending anyone, and secondly, speaking out would suggest they placed too little value on their performance.

Zhu Yu had anticipated this reaction. Observing the silent crowd, he couldn't help but smile smugly.

"We don't really know the extent of Chu Yi's abilities. If we rashly include him in our group, it could jeopardize our results."

"You wouldn't want to hinder the other students with your personal biases, right?"

That final remark was what made Lee Zi hesitate.

Lee Zi wasn't worried about criticism; her hesitation stemmed from her kind nature and reluctance to burden others.

"But I am aware of Chu Yi's capabilities. He..."

Zhu Yu dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"I'm sure his abilities aren't lacking, considering he's been accepted into the Trial Group."

"But it's true he lacks experience!"

"Of course, if his abilities are strong enough, that might compensate for his inexperience."

Chu Yi's abilities...

Just ten days earlier, Chu Yi was merely a warrior on the cusp of the Bronze Level.

Among his peers, such strength was commendable, and he could even be loosely termed a prodigy.

But that was the extent of it. Every student in the Trial Group was a bona fide genius.

In this context, Chu Yi was unremarkable.

Zhu Yu, seeing the look on Lee Zi's face, couldn't suppress his grin. "So, it's not that I'm unwelcoming to Chu Yi, it's just that..."

—

"It's because you're infatuated with Lee Zi, and you fear that my presence will ruin your chances."

"Am I right?"

Chu Yi's voice cut through just as Zhu Yu was holding forth.

Witnessing Zhu Yu's astonished face, Chu Yi approached with an equally broad smile.

"All this talk—is it because you're worried I'll steal Lee Zi away?"

He paused, then added, "Oh, but that's not quite right. It's not about stealing, since Lee Zi was never yours to begin with..."

Zhu Yu's expression had darkened considerably. In truth, everyone was aware of Zhu Yu's thoughts, but who would dare to voice them?

It would be like admitting defeat publicly!

Others might concern themselves with such matters, but Chu Yi certainly didn't.

He believed there was nothing left to discuss with Zhu Yu.

While speaking, Chu Yi approached Zhu Yu, gazing at him with a sarcastic smile. "You just want to get rid of me, don't you?"

"The issue is quite straightforward. Why all the excuses?"

Chu Yi then turned to address the teacher.

"Teacher, how would you rate this student's performance in the Trial Group?"

The teacher gave Zhu Yu a look, then turned to Chu Yi with an enigmatic smile. "Zhu Yu is among the top contenders in this Trial Group."

He paused before adding, "That is, of course, second only to Lee Zi."

Chu Yi's grin widened. "So, if I defeat you, it means I won't be much of a drag, correct?"

Zhu Yu's face grew even more sullen, yet he managed to suppress his anger and even forced a smile.

"That's correct. If Chu Yi can best me, then..."

Chu Yi cut him off with a dismissive wave, "Enough with the pointless chatter. You just want to fight, hoping to leave me incapacitated, right?"

"Such hypocrisy!"

Zhu Yu's complexion fluctuated between pale and flushed.

Faced with Chu Yi's brazen attitude, he was at a loss for words.

Even though Chu Yi spoke the truth, it wasn't something to be declared so openly.

Unable to maintain his facade any longer, Zhu Yu could only glare at Chu Yi with a brooding intensity. "Well, do you have the guts?"

Chu Yi didn't respond directly but instead turned to the instructor. "Teacher, please bear witness."

"If I lose, I'll bow out of the trial voluntarily."

"And if he loses..."

A mischievous smirk crossed Chu Yi's lips, "Then, he'll have no further need to participate..."

The instructor seemed about to interject, but Zhu Yu stepped forward, "Exactly. For the defeated, there's no chance of continuing anyway."

"After all..."

Zhu Yu regarded Chu Yi with an icy stare. "A nearly crippled person continuing to fight is tantamount to seeking death..."

His blunt words effectively sealed the fate of the battle.

Death was out of the question. The teachers here would never permit it.

But a severe injury, on the other hand...

Given the current state of technology, true disability was a thing of the past. As long as you didn't die, you were free to battle to your heart's content.

Moreover, the Alliance didn't forbid such fierce combat; survival was the only requirement.

Of course, even with today's technology, recovering from a grave injury would take time.

Engaging in such a clash right before the trial was discordant, but sadly, the parties involved were already at loggerheads. Any further attempts to intervene would only cast one as the villain. Thus, the overseeing teacher chose to remain silent.