The Grand Competition Re-launches, New Rules

In the Su family's mansion.

Su Muwan lay blissfully on the soft sofa, her eyes half-closed, a happy smile adorning her face. Beside her, Qin Luo smiled as he held a hot, steamy puff pastry, skillfully feeding it to Su Muwan.

"Ah~!"

Su Muwan let out a sound of satisfaction.

"Good, isn't it?"

Qin Luo asked softly, then popped another puff pastry into his mouth.

"Mmm, mmm..."

Su Muwan's cheeks puffed up with the pastry, making her look like a cute little hamster. She worked hard to chew, the sweet cream bursting in her mouth.

She nodded, her words unclear but confirming, "So... good...."

Qin Luo couldn't help but chuckle at Su Muwan's adorable expression. He reached out, picked up another puff pastry, and dangled it in front of her: "Want more?"

"Uh-huh."

Qin Luo chuckled, then tossed the pastry upward.

"Ah~!"

Su Muwan caught it in her mouth.

Qin Luo threw another.

"Ah~!"

Su Muwan caught that one too.

*Clap clap clap!*

Qin Luo clapped, his expression surprised: "Miss Su, you're amazing!"

Su Muwan: ?

Realizing what had happened, Su Muwan slowly typed out a question mark before angrily glaring at Qin Luo: "Qin Luo!!!"

"You jerk!"

"Su... SuMu... I'm sorry, SuMu, I was just joking... Ugh!"

*Bang bang bang!*

Five minutes later.

Qin Luo leaned lifelessly against the sofa, gently sucking in air.

What?

I'm fully focused on defense, aren't I?

Why did I still break so easily?

Su Muwan, on the other hand, blinked innocently as she rubbed Qin Luo's chest, her voice soft and tender: "LuoLuo, you know, my previous criteria for choosing a partner was finding someone who could withstand a single punch from me."

"You're really strong, able to take so many punches from me."

With that, Su Muwan reached out and patted Qin Luo's head: "Good job, good job. Here's a little reward to comfort you."

Qin Luo fell silent: ......

If you're going to comfort me...

He glanced at Su Muwan's dainty, bare feet tucked under the sofa.

Please use those, thank you.

At that moment.

The detective cartoon that had been playing on the TV suddenly switched.

Qin Luo and Su Muwan both looked over.

On the screen.

Pre-Heat Begins for the Nationwide Martial Arts Competition!!

Under a dazzling array of special effects and a booming BGM, Qian Duoduo's figure appeared on the screen.

He nervously exclaimed: "E-everyone, please do your best and strive to win!"

Below the stage.

A group of bodyguards wiped away tears.

"Young master is so amazing!"

"Young master actually spoke so many words on camera, it's incredible!"

Geez, you're all louder than the TV...

Su Muwan understood.

Previously, the competition was led by Qian Yu, but after he was assassinated, the tournament was postponed. Now, the event's organizer had been changed to Qian Duoduo.

How strange, too strange.

The Qian family actually gave up on Qian Yu and chose Qian Duoduo?

She glanced at Qin Luo, noticing he was studying the tournament introduction.

A memory surfaced in her mind, recalling the old man by Qian Duoduo's side who had earnestly begged her:

After the competition, the Qian family will undoubtedly be absorbed by the Martial Arts Alliance. We hope to seek protection from Miss Su in Jiangcheng.

Su Muwan pursed her lips.

In her previous life, the Qian family had invented the [Martial Artist Chip], which enabled an ordinary person to instantly become a late-stage Great Accomplishment realm martial artist.

While seemingly wonderful, the chip would deplete the user's lifespan.

But despite the enormous side effects, it had caused quite a stir.

This severely disrupted the progress of the martial artist era.

Thus...

The Martial Arts Alliance heavily targeted the Qian family.

However, thanks to the existence of Qian Yu, a T0 "chosen one," the family's crisis was resolved within a few months, albeit after striking some unknown deal with the alliance.

The Martial Artist Chip disappeared from the market.

Qian Yu was quite the talent, later developing some kind of mech.

However... it was useless.

Once a martial artist reached the Peak Realm, bullets and missiles became ineffective.

Even a martial artist's qi barrier couldn't be breached, at least in her presence. In her opinion, those mechs were just fancy mining equipment.

Of course, she had died before the future unfolded, so she couldn't say for sure what happened afterward.

With Qian Duoduo's warm-up speech over.

A man in white appeared on the screen, sporting gold-rimmed glasses. He sat nervously beside Qian Duoduo, a faint smile playing on his lips, his gaze half-closed as he looked into the camera.

In front of him sat a nameplate.

Qin Luo and Su Muwan glanced at it.

It read.

【Alliance Research Department·Li Mingyuan】

Alliance personnel...

Qin Luo was intrigued. The old man had mentioned before that this tournament would be different from past events, likely due to the alliance's involvement.

Su Muwan blinked in confusion.

Why is it this guy?

【Su Muwan! Why are you so strong!】

【Wait! Let me share a secret! Our alliance's transcendents actually all possess...】

【Smack! (Li Mingyuan turned into a blood mist)】

【Too much nonsense.】

Su Muwan: ......

She recalled it all.

This man was a science fanatic from her previous life, developing a group of human experiments to bother her.

He wanted to take her to see their leader.

Alliance leader... ugh...

Su Muwan had an ominous feeling. This life wouldn't repeat the same thing again, would it?

Before she could think more.

Li Mingyuan's voice rang out.

"To better infuse fresh martial artist blood."

This year's competition, the Martial Arts Alliance will collaborate with various major families to host this tournament.

"Furthermore, the rules will be different from previous years."

With that.

Li Mingyuan raised his wrist, showing a peculiar bracelet, explaining: "See this bracelet? It records the wearer's information."

"All participants will be given this bracelet."

"Upon approaching each other, the bracelets will emit a signal."

"Each contestant must aim to seize others' bracelets."

"The person with the most bracelets will be the winner."

After finishing.

Li Mingyuan put his hand down, adjusted his glasses, and then smiled: "This time, we will adopt... the city shrinking mode."

Meaning, all participants must engage in [circle shrinking] [poison running] to fight within the shrinking area.

"Staying outside the shrinking zone for too long will result in immediate elimination."

"Oh, killing is forbidden."

"But crippling limbs and destroying dantians are allowed."

"Now, you can start registering, and the bracelets will be mailed to you during the registration period."

Why are crippling limbs and destroying dantians allowed?!

Su Muwan wanted to complain about this point badly.

And!

This is different from my previous life!

Such competition rules didn't exist before!

Qin Luo understood, a mirthful smile on his face as he sighed: "This... is getting interesting."

Su Muwan looked at Qin Luo: "Is this really interesting?"

"Miss Su, let's aim for first place!"

"Oh...."

"Why do you sound so unmotivated?"

"Hmph, it's not even a good thing, so why would I be motivated?"

At Qin Luo's words, he smiled and draped an arm over Su Muwan's shoulders, pulling her into his embrace.

Under her slightly embarrassed gaze, he said, "This is a great opportunity to change how people perceive you, SuSu!"

"Huh? Really?"

"Hehe, trust me, reputation turnaround is all riding on this!"

"Oh... wait? Qin Luo, you think my public image is bad too?"

"......"

"Answer me!"

"......"