Chapter 17

Chapter 17

In the noisy and crowded spectator stands, Yi Ye sat in the last row, recalling what had just happened in the corridor.

He and Bush Meihua didn’t talk for long and soon parted ways. As he had imagined, Bush Meihua’s appearance perfectly matched that of an elegant nobleman, with a gentle smile that didn’t feel intrusive or cold. However, Yi Ye still felt a strange discomfort, as if he were being scrutinized, which he disliked intensely.

His impression of Bush Meihua in the game was that of a bit of a lunatic who enjoyed twisted games, but he didn’t know much else about him.

However, he sensed that today’s confrontation between Caesar Audria and him wouldn’t end easily.

Just as Yi Ye was lost in thought, Bai Chuan found him in the spectator stands. Carrying two bottles of water and some bread, Bai Chuan pushed through the crowd and sat beside him. Noticing Yi Ye lost in thought, he didn’t speak immediately.

It wasn’t until Yi Ye looked up that he noticed someone sitting next to him.

"You’re here," he said, taking the water and bread. "The final match starts at 3:30; there are still about five minutes left."

Bai Chuan wasn’t concerned about the outcome of the match between Caesar Audria and Bush Meihua, but he warned Yi Ye not to wolf down the bread.

Yi Ye nodded and hummed, took a bite, and then looked at Bai Chuan, recalling something. "Have you met Bush Meihua yet?"

"No. Didn’t you say I should let you know if I see him?"

"That’s right. So, you haven’t met him since forming the team, and he hasn’t contacted you either?"

Bai Chuan glanced at him. "No."

Given Bai Chuan’s personality, it was understandable that he wouldn’t contact his teammates, but why hadn’t the protagonist taken any action? Moreover, if Bai Chuan and Bush Meihua hadn’t been in contact, how did Bush Meihua know about him? Yi Ye wasn’t arrogant enough to think he was famous within the military academy.

"It’s starting, it’s starting!" A sudden uproar broke out nearby.

Yi Ye pulled his attention back to the arena.

Caesar Audria and Bush Meihua stood on opposite sides of the field, with the stands behind them erupting in waves of cheers, echoing high above the venue. As the two most notable freshmen of the first year, this wasn’t just a test match but a clash between the Audria and Meihua families. Everyone was eagerly anticipating the final outcome.

"Bullshit! Caesar Audria is definitely going to win; he’s a 3S level!"

Someone behind them started arguing.

"What’s the use of just having physical talent? You must not have seen Bush Meihua’s matches. I think he could even take on active commanders."

"Stop talking nonsense! If he’s that strong, why would he come to the military academy?"

"Are you insulting my mother? I’ll kill you!!"

Before the match even started, a fight broke out behind them. Security personnel hurried over to drag them away, throwing the venue into chaos and agitation.

...

Bush Meihua withdrew his gaze from the spectator stands, always wearing a perfectly measured smile, and looked at Caesar Audria.

"My offer still stands. Would you like to consider it, Caesar Audria?"

Caesar Audria’s face darkened. "I’ll consider it when you’re dead."

"That’s a pity," Bush Meihua said, his platinum blonde hair tied into a low ponytail that swayed slightly with his movements. "How about we make a deal? If I win, you leave the Imperial Honor Military Academy. If you win, I’ll tell you something."

His gaze subtly shifted toward the stands, finding the black-haired youth in the sea of people, his smile inscrutable. "I heard you were attacked on the day of the entrance ceremony. Want to know who it was?"

Caesar Audria’s expression froze, and he narrowed his eyes dangerously. "How do I know you’re telling the truth?"

"You don’t have to believe me," Bush Meihua smiled softly, "but without me, you will never find him."

"..."

A few seconds of silence stretched on like an eternity, and Kaiser sneered abruptly, "I can’t possibly lose to you."

As soon as the words fell, a short whistle shot into the air. Two figures in the arena charged at each other like streaks of lightning, leaving behind only afterimages. Kaiser's fighting style was direct and brutally elegant, every strike targeting the opponent's weak spots, igniting the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.

Yi Ye had trained with Kaiser and even sparred against him. He knew exactly how terrifying Kaiser's strength was; he could crush human bones with his bare hands without breaking a sweat.

But only if he could catch his opponent.

Yi Ye now understood why people said Bush Meihua could predict the future. His ability to observe and predict was truly remarkable. Where Kaiser would strike from, how he would attack—Bush Meihua seemed to see it all in slow motion. He always managed to dodge a split second before the strike landed.

But Bush Meihua's physical abilities paled in comparison to Kaiser's. He could only evade, never quite managing to counterattack.

The fight was deadlocked. In just a few minutes, despite it being a freshman assessment, everyone could feel the fierce tension of their battle.

Kaiser's attacks were unrelenting, his strength never wavering, like a molten blade, poised to strike lethally at any second. Yet Bush Meihua moved like the wind—formless, untouchable, and elusive.

Yi Ye's face turned grim.

If this kept up, Kaiser would burn through his stamina.

Bang!

After another failed attack, Yi Ye noticed Kaiser's breathing growing ragged.

His movements, strained from prolonged exertion, began to slow uncontrollably, forced to quicken his breathing to keep up with his body's oxygen needs. Sweat rolled down like rain, forming mottled black spots on the ground.

Those black spots were like patches in his eyes. Kaiser's mind was in chaos, only feeling a tearing pain in his brain and glands. Adrenaline surged, his body temperature soared, burning as if he were in a sea of fire.

Damn it!

Damn it!!!

At this rate, he couldn’t win! But if he lost, he wouldn’t be able to see that person...

Thinking of the figure imprisoned in the high tower, Kaiser's mouth almost burned with blood.

He had to win.

A voice coldly warned him.

Even if he had to kill Bush Meihua, he had to win.

In the audience.

Yi Ye frowned, "Kaiser's condition isn’t right, he..."

Just as he turned his head, he suddenly saw Bai Chuan's fingers turning pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat. And it wasn’t just Bai Chuan; most of the students of the Imperial Honor Military Academy around them showed varying degrees of painful and suppressed expressions, with only a few Betas spared.

"What’s going on?"

"It’s the pheromones," Bai Chuan's voice was hoarse, his body arched, his hand tightly gripping Yi Ye's fingertips, "Kaiser's pheromones... are out of control."

Yi Ye quickly looked towards the arena.

Students of the Imperial Honor Military Academy are strictly prohibited from releasing pheromones during their time at school. Whether Alphas or Omegas, they must regularly inject inhibitors, even during assessments. The academy's control over pheromones is extremely strict, and with the development of inhibitors reaching a very advanced stage, pheromone out-of-control situations are rare.

For an Alpha like Kaiser, once his pheromones spread, they are sure to strongly affect others.

Bai Chuan clenched his teeth, his face turning pale: "He wants to kill Bush Meihua; we must stop him."

"Let me get you out of here first!" Yi Ye pulled Bai Chuan up, but was pressed back by the other, shaking his head, "Hand me your coat."

Yi Ye didn’t understand why he wanted his clothes at this moment, but without hesitation, he immediately unbuttoned his uniform and draped it over him. He held his shoulders, trying to comfort him: "It's okay, it's okay, I'll go stop Kaiser."

"What are you... going to do..."

Yi Ye didn’t speak, turning his head to look at the instructors by the field.

Instructors were already managing the crowd outside, injecting sedatives into the Alphas showing adverse reactions, but no one went into the field to stop Kaiser. Ending the match would disqualify both participants.

Yi Ye quickly devised a plan, suddenly seeing several celebratory cannons nearby. He grabbed them and dashed towards the field. He couldn’t enter the field, otherwise Kaiser and Bush Meihua's match would be invalidated, and all efforts would be wasted. The only thing he could do was to bring Kaiser back to his senses.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The quiet stands suddenly roared with cannon blasts!

The sound echoed in the field.

Almost instantly, Kaiser's figure paused, followed by a kick to the abdomen by Bush Meihua, causing him to stagger and fall. Pain shot through him, yet it also sharpened his focus, and he gazed dazedly at the field.

In his chaotic vision, the black-haired youth stood out sharply.

He saw the youth covered in ridiculous confetti, his face pale as moonlight, but the youth raised his middle finger at him, yelling defiantly,

"Young Master, can you handle this or not! Lose, and I'll think less of you! You can't even top me!"

"..."

Kaiser's heart pounded, his chest rising and falling in fury, "Shut up!"

He propped himself up, pressing his palm hard against the gland on the back of his neck, and as his consciousness returned, he barely managed to control his spiraling pheromones.

Bush Meihua observed him with a faint smile: "I was waiting for you to completely collapse and kill me, what a shame."

"There's more than one thing for you to regret."

Kaiser spat blood, his tone arrogant: "Your revenge for your brother is even more idiotic than my actions."

The smile on Bush Meihua's face instantly faded.

The pheromones in the stands slowly faded, though traces lingered. The situation had improved compared to before, and the Alphas and Omegas who were stimulated gradually calmed down.

Yi Ye quickly returned to his seat to observe Bai Chuan's condition. His complexion had eased, but he was still clutching his coat, like a bird gathering twigs for its nest.

Yi Ye was worried that he was uncomfortable and wanted to suggest taking him back to the dormitory, but Bai Chuan didn’t move, just quietly leaned against his arm, his deep eyes fixed on the field, so he kept watching the match.

Kaiser and Bush Meihua had been in a stalemate for too long, obviously both sides' stamina was almost exhausted. At this point, Kaiser should switch from offense to defense to have a better chance of winning, but he still followed his usual offensive, not holding back at all.

Is it a strategy? Or a habit?

Those who were originally confident that Kaiser would win also began to waver, after all, the current situation was too unpredictable.

So he couldn’t help but ask Bai Chuan for his thoughts.

Bai Chuan tightened the coat on his body, after a long silence, he spoke without much emotion: "Some things in this world are inherently cruel, such as the family, appearance, intelligence, and talent one is born with. Between Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, there is an insurmountable gap that cannot be changed or crossed. But not many people are unwilling to accept this, because they have been accustomed to their own strengths and weaknesses since differentiation."

"But what is truly cruel?"

He looked at Yi Ye, suddenly smiling: "It's when they have similar family backgrounds, similar identities, but there is still a chasm-like step standing in between."

"Between 2S level and 3S level, there is such a chasm."