No, We Must Compete

If the emperor had risen to his feet, how could the accompanying officials dare remain seated?

The attending ministers immediately stood up, exchanging glances that conveyed mutual understanding.

Well, the Crown Prince was His Majesty’s own son, representing the imperial family, the nobility, and the dignity of the court. He had indeed been unrivaled among his peers in the past.

Now that His Highness had suffered defeat, it didn’t take a genius to realize the emperor was displeased.

As for Li Mo...

Put yourself in the emperor’s shoes—if the heir you’d spent years grooming suffered a humiliating loss, wouldn’t it make you look incompetent? Infuriating!

Li Mo, a disciple from some sect that guarded the previous dynasty’s imperial tombs—what standing did he have to dare defeat the Crown Prince?

“This Li Mo...”

“What an audacious, lawless rogue! He must have used underhanded methods!”

“Where did all those swords come from? They clearly violate the tournament rules. Investigate thoroughly—his results must be annulled!”

“Why do so many prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking know him? I suspect he’s conspiring against the court!”

“At first glance, his character... well, fine, he’s undeniably handsome. But his morals... ah, forget it. What good could come from a hammer-wielder?”

“My instincts are never wrong—there’s something off about this kid.”

“Did you see how his arm suddenly bulged during the match? I bet he’s linked to the Divine Strength Powder!”

For once, the ministers were in perfect sync when interpreting the emperor’s mood.

Running out of accusations, they began flinging baseless slander. Even the official who mentioned the Divine Strength Powder doubted his own absurdity, drawing surprised looks from his colleagues.

What connection could Li Mo possibly have with some legendary noodle brand? That was stretching it.

But it didn’t matter.

What mattered was taking a stand, showing solidarity with the emperor.

Just as the ministers finished their tirade, Emperor Jingtai’s second half of the sentence drifted down like a feather:

“Truly, heroes emerge from the young. As for Jiang Yu—life isn’t always smooth sailing. Better to suffer humiliation now than grow arrogant and jeopardize the empire’s future.”

“...”

Silence fell, punctuated only by the sound of metaphorical slaps to the ministers’ faces.

But those who’d climbed high in court had long mastered the art of thick skin.

“I’ve heard he’s renowned in the martial world for his generosity and noble character. Truly, seeing is believing.”

“The Hidden Dragon Tournament has always upheld fairness, justice, and transparency across all its editions!”

“Hammers symbolize honesty and straightforwardness. How could a hammer-wielder possibly be evil?”

“Your Majesty’s wisdom knows no bounds!”

While inwardly wondering if Li Mo was the emperor’s secret lovechild, the ministers lavished praise.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking’s top spot had changed hands—without even waiting for the finals.

Chaos erupted across the imperial capital. This was earth-shattering news.

The scene at the Meridian Gate defied description.

“Hammer Tyrant! I’m your biggest fan!”

“We love the Tyrant! We love the Tyrant!”

“Fake fans! Hammer? More like Divine Sword!”

“I propose renaming him ‘Divine Sword Gentleman’!”

“Huh? Where’s ‘Our Village’s Finest Sword’?”

Some stood dumbfounded, others cheered wildly, while a few crouched to search the ground for the legendary blade—the area around the arena descended into pandemonium.

Meanwhile, Li Mo, having finally indulged his swordsman fantasy, stepped off the platform before the purple-robed eunuch could announce the results.

Bathed in countless gazes and thunderous cheers, he felt none of the expected elation.

Was this the loneliness of invincibility—like a peerless swordsman with no rivals left to challenge?

Don’t be ridiculous. He was only at the third realm.

“Wasn’t my dream to shine as a swordsman before the crowd?”

Li Mo couldn’t pinpoint why he felt so conflicted.

“Brother Li!” Xiao Qin, never one for words, stared at him with shining eyes.

“Damn, Lao Li, you actually pulled it off. Here, I’ve got some ‘Beyond Recognition’ ointment left—patch yourself up.” Huang Donglai’s concern was... touching.

“We are the champions!” Murong Xiao roared.

Nearby, monks from Dragon Elephant Temple looked bewildered—their junior brother Guan Kong hadn’t even fought yet. When did the tournament end?

Amid the earlier chaos, everyone had nearly forgotten—the Hidden Dragon Tournament wasn’t over.

“Li Mo still has a match against Frost Fairy.”

“My eternal support goes to Ying Bing,” declared an ice fan.

“Even the Crown Prince lost. Can Frost Fairy really win?” argued a championship fan.

“Who cares who wins? Either way, it’s shippable!” This came from Shang Qinqing.

As she spoke, Shang Qinqing narrowed her eyes at a distant scene, satisfaction blooming in her chest.

Perfect.

She saw Li Mo bypass post-match interviews and victory speeches, seemingly indifferent to his triumph, weaving through the crowd until he spotted Ying Bing—only then did his face relax into a relieved smile.

Not far away, Ying Bing’s usual frosty demeanor had thawed, her expression now luminous and soft, her steps almost buoyant.

So really—who won or lost didn’t matter at all.

Shipping fans—forever undefeated!

“No words for your admirers?” Ying Bing tilted her head as if just noticing his approach.

“It wasn’t my victory alone. Besides, I’m exhausted,” Li Mo shook his head.

“No, it wasn’t.”

Ying Bing denied it.

True, she’d used her Moon Spirit Connection to briefly let Li Mo synchronize with the celestial swords, but everything after was his doing.

The swords had opened their essence to him—not because of her, but because he was the one wielding them.

“You achieved your long-held dream. Aren’t you happy?”

“Not as thrilling as I imagined.”

Her slender fingers curled slightly within his larger hand. Suddenly, Ying Bing looked up, studying him intently.

His face remained the same—every feature unchanged.

Yet his eyes held new depths...

She had to admit—sometimes, with her rebirth and past-life memories, having been empress and master of the Cassia Palace, she unconsciously positioned herself as his mentor.

Even though the system’s rankings showed she’d rarely won...

She still found herself guiding this ridiculously talented fool...

And now, somehow, he’d defeated the Hidden Dragon’s top rank, joining the realm’s foremost young elites, admired by heroes across the nine heavens and ten earths.

Lost in thought, she started when Li Mo suddenly leaned close, whispering at her ear:

“Ice block, we agreed we’re one and the same, right?”

“Why bring that up now?”

“What I mean is—since that’s the case, whoever wins is the same. Later, let’s just put on a show, then I’ll forfeit.”

“Why?” Ying Bing frowned.

Defeating her would virtually guarantee his top position—something countless others dreamed of.

Besides, she was curious.

This time, who would the system declare the winner...

“I want to head back early. You know me—endlessly curious. Which feels better—pearl-white silk or black cloud gauze? I’ve been wondering.”

“...”

Ying Bing’s breath hitched. Her hand darted to pinch his waist.

After a sharp twist, she paused, then declared:

“No. We’re fighting.”

"Alright then..."