Chapter 249

Chapter 249

The final battle lasted a full thirteen days, making it the longest match in this round of matches.

It could have gone on even longer.

After United exhausted their energy supplies, they attempted to launch another wave of attacks using manual equipment only.

They could have held out for another day or two.

However, after the Commander of United issued the order, the organizers stepped in and enforced an end to the match, declaring Shoujun the winner.

—While such behavior would be commendable and praiseworthy on a real battlefield, in the context of the University League…

That’s just throwing money away!

Give their budget a break!

After the battle concluded, both sides returned to the assembly area. Bai Xingshu clearly saw that the students from United had eyes rimmed red, their faces filled with indignation and frustration.

Seeing the writing on the wall before the match was even halfway through, fighting tooth and nail for nearly ten days without achieving any reversal—

It was absolutely not something easy to accept.

Thus, when these United students caught sight of Bai Xingshu from afar again, their gazes had lost their earlier starstruck wonder.

To this, one could only say…

Congratulations to yet another university’s students for developing Bai Xingshu’s charm immunity!!

In contrast, the expressions on the faces of the students from Changying were downright smug.

They had secured their own victory two days earlier than Shoujun and United and had already received debriefs from their teachers about the battle between Shoujun and United.

Most importantly, they wanted to know whether the suggestion they had proposed to Shen Geng had been implemented.

Upon learning that United had also fallen victim to Xingshu’s schemes, everyone from Changying wore smug grins.

The rivalries among these three schools did not disrupt the proceedings of the University League. Soon, the draw for the semifinals—the top four advancing to the top two—commenced.

Then, predictably, Shen Geng drew United Military University as their opponent.

Meanwhile, Changying, who had initially been overjoyed, found their grins turned to grimaces upon seeing the draw results.

The semifinals meant no team would be an easy match, but at least none would be as maddening as facing Shoujun.

It wasn’t just Xingshu’s doing.

After reviewing the match, they also realized that Shoujun’s Commander was like two peas in a pod with Bai Xingshu—a match made in mischief!

Others’ misery lifted their spirits.

Once the match results were announced, many of the previously disheartened United students perked up noticeably.

Even United’s representative hesitated for a few seconds before marching their team toward Shoujun once more.

Upon arrival, the representative glanced at Bai Xingshu. The moment they met his shit-eating grin, their mind flashed back to the nightmare that had begun their battle against Shoujun—Bai Xingshu’s face as he wrecked the security feed after revealing his identity.

The United representative felt a stab of frustration for a moment before shifting his gaze to Shen Geng, muttering under his breath, “Have you ever considered having Bai Xingshu’s Squad infiltrate Changying as well?”

“The league doesn’t allow video recordings, and Changying is in the middle of their match right now—they definitely don’t know about this.” The United representative pushed his underhanded idea. “Don’t you want to see how the people from Changying would react if they encountered something like this?”

Faced with these provocative words, Shen Geng paused, struggling to keep a straight face before replying bluntly, “Before the last match started, the representative from Changying said the very same thing to me.”

The United representative: …

Shen Geng glanced at his expression and added, “…During the friendly exchange match last semester, we were up against Changying.”

Even a child could understand Shen Geng’s implication at this point.

The fact that he and the people from Changying had the exact same idea was the height of irony.

It was equal parts infuriating and hilarious.

But knowing that Changying had also been bullied like this, the United side suddenly found the situation easier to swallow.

When the irritation faded slightly, the United representative let out a long sigh and said through gritted teeth, “If it weren’t for Bai Xingshu’s Squad, I would’ve taken your academy down.”

Shen Geng, notoriously even-keeled outside of combat, didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he smiled gently and said, “True, but from now on, we’ll all be comrades.”

Let others voice such frustrations in the future.

Shen Geng didn’t say the latter half aloud, but the unsaid words hung in the air, dissolving the last remnants of unwillingness in the United visitors’ hearts.

Yes, their battle was over.

From here on out, in the various military corps, they would all be comrades.

“See you in the corps,” the United representative said.

“Likewise,” Shen Geng replied.

After their conversation, Shen Geng returned, and Bai Xingshu immediately asked him about the purpose of the United representative’s visit.

There was naturally nothing to hide.

Shen Geng directly shared the most ironic bit of the exchange.

The students from the Combat Department snickered into their sleeves.

Somehow… among the three schools—United, Changying, and theirs—there really was an unspoken understanding.

But once the laughter died down, they were left with the burning question.

How were they going to fight Changying?

The infiltrator play was definitely off the table now.

The trick of disguising as Bai Xingshu’s Squad from the second exchange match wouldn’t work either.

After the previous lesson, Changying would go all out regardless of whether Bai Xingshu’s Squad was present—even if they confirmed it was them.

As for the stamina-depletion tactic, Changying had finished their match two days earlier, giving them time to analyze it thoroughly.

Against top-tier officers like them? That trick wouldn’t work twice.

Everyone silently turned their gaze to Shen Geng, all curious about what their commander had up his sleeve for messing with the enemy next.

Facing the expectant looks from everyone, Shen Geng: "..."

No, that's not it!!

He was truly an upright commander who generally didn’t use tactics that would drive the enemy up the wall!

Those previous times were just flukes.

Bai Xingshu had simply created such a strong advantage that it’d be a waste not to capitalize on it.

That wasn’t his usual MO!

Of course, these words were completely ineffective in front of his fellow students.

After all, whether commanding allies or rivals, Shen Geng had never run out of tricks up his sleeve.

Since Bai Xingshu was either ally or adversary, neither scenario could be dealt with using standard tactics.

Thus, under the knowing gazes of his classmates, Shen Geng muttered flatly, "Then... how about we start with an empty fort strategy?"