Qing Ye walked back to the bleachers and sat next to Da Hei, asking, “Who was that Brother Fang just now? Is he also here to help Da Cao?”

Da Hei glanced sideways across the field and told her, “Fang Jie is an influential figure in the An Tang, and he also does business outside. He’s one of the regular suppliers for the shooting range.”

Following Da Hei’s line of sight, Qing Ye saw Brother Fang’s group walking to the opposite bleachers, sitting beside those senior brothers Da Hei had mentioned. She couldn’t help but think about what Brother Fang had told her earlier – to leave early. Why should she leave early? What were they planning to do? As a member of An Tang, he should logically stand with Da Cao, so why would he warn her?

All these confused thoughts rushed into Qing Ye’s mind at once, tangling like a mess of threads, making everything increasingly unclear. Her heart had been beating uneasily since she entered the venue.

Suddenly, she realized something and scanned the crowd, asking, “Where’s Quan Ya?”

Hua Bi turned back to her and said, “Called him this morning, but no answer.”

Qing Ye’s frown deepened. Where was Quan Ya now? Why wasn’t he answering his phone?

When Xing Wu’s family had trouble, Quan Ya contributed the most money without hesitation. In the past, wherever Xing Wu went or whoever he met, Quan Ya was always the first to stand up for him. Yet today, on such an important day, he hadn’t shown up? Everything seemed to carry an unusual flavor!

Just then, the county sports meet officially began. The bleachers immediately stirred with activity as all participants entered the waiting area. Qing Ye sat up straight, her eyes trembling constantly. Huang Mao suddenly pointed somewhere and shouted, “Over there!”

Qing Ye looked in the direction he was pointing and found Old Dong in the crowd, dressed in blue sportswear, holding a clipboard, and talking continuously.

Her eyes continued searching that corner until she finally found Xing Wu behind several male students. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and gray track pants, with a large towel draped over his shoulders. People kept moving back and forth in front of him, making it difficult for Qing Ye to see his expression. She could only vaguely make out that he was holding a water bottle, head lowered, squeezing the plastic bottle.

After the announcer’s introduction, the competition officially began. Xing Wu was still participating in the pentathlon: long jump, 200 meters, shot put, high jump, and 1500 meters. Da Cao had registered for the same events, so their victory would be determined by the best of five.

The first track event was the 100-meter sprint, which neither had entered, while the high jump was happening simultaneously. Xing Wu finally pulled off the towel from his shoulders. As he stood up, his tall, athletic figure immediately drew many people’s attention. Unlike the winter camp, today no girls were cheering for him – only watchful, hostile gazes.

At the same time, following a roar from the other end of the bleachers, Qing Ye noticed Da Cao. This was her first time seeing him in all-white sportswear. He was about as tall as Xing Wu but leaner, with his hair tied in a small ponytail today, wearing a mischievous expression.

Though they weren’t in the same group, the two exchanged glances through the crowd.

Qing Ye unconsciously clasped her hands together as Xing Wu did some simple warm-up exercises on the sidelines before joining his group for the first high jump event. With his long legs and tall stature, he had a natural advantage in this event and easily won first place in the group rounds, while Da Cao achieved excellent results in the long jump.

Although they had no direct interaction throughout, both silently monitored each other’s scores. In the end, Xing Wu took first place in the high jump but lost to Da Cao in the long jump.

For the 200 meters, they were assigned to the same group but separated by two lanes. When the gun went off, the runner in Lane 5, starting from an outer position, was one step ahead of Xing Wu. Just as Xing Wu charged forward, the Lane 5 runner suddenly swerved toward him. This brief moment was enough for Da Cao to gain a one-second lead and surge ahead. Before Qing Ye could even understand what had happened, Hua Bi and the others had all jumped up shouting, “Foul!”

She stood up in panic, asking everyone, “What happened?”

Da Hei said with a grim face, “Can’t call it a foul, Lane 5 didn’t cross the line.”

Qing Ye clenched her fists tightly, palms sweating. After falling behind by two seconds, Xing Wu accelerated his sprint forward, but by then Da Cao was already far ahead, his speed like an arrow released from a bow. Qing Ye’s pupils dilated, her heartbeat thundering in her ears. Da Cao’s abilities were undeniable – even after a two-year training hiatus, his speed remained astonishing.

Xing Wu ran very close to Lane 5, their elbows occasionally colliding. The Lane 5 runner was built similarly to Pang Hu, tall and burly, sticking to Xing Wu like a leech. Xing Wu turned his head to glare at him, and at that moment, the runner’s elbow struck Xing Wu’s ribs hard, stunning everyone.

Qing Ye could no longer believe this was a county-organized competition, as these people dared to openly use such underhanded tactics.

Xing Wu endured Lane 5’s strike, merely furrowing his brows slightly without breaking stride. As the runner was about to lean into Xing Wu again, Xing Wu raised his arm – a movement that looked like he had bumped Lane 5 to outside observers. Huang Mao cursed furiously, while Qing Ye anxiously thought to herself, “Hurry, shake him off…”

In the final 50 meters, Xing Wu suddenly unleashed his full power, sprinting forward desperately. Within two seconds, he left the Lane 5 runner far behind, his speed like a fierce cheetah, equally shocking. However, with the finish line in sight, he still couldn’t catch up to Da Cao, finishing two body lengths behind in second place.

Huang Mao and the others collectively roared about Lane 5’s foul, their shouts growing increasingly louder.

Sweat dripped down Xing Wu’s forehead as he lifted his t-shirt to wipe it off, looking in their direction. His gaze unexpectedly met Qing Ye’s – she was standing beside Da Hei, her eyes fixed intently on him. Xing Wu froze for a moment, gradually frowning as he stared at her.

Qing Ye knew he was upset about her coming. That morning, he had deliberately said he’d finish by noon and return to have lunch with her, trying to prevent her from following. But she had come anyway – she had to come. She couldn’t let him fight alone.

Just then, the referee ran to the announcer’s booth for consultation. Soon, the announcer declared that due to physical contact between Lanes 5 and 4 during the 200-meter race, both runners were disqualified.

Huang Mao and the others were stunned, never expecting this outcome. Hua Bi cursed, “Damn it.”

Da Hei said gravely to Huang Mao and the others, “Stop shouting. Whether Wu Zi bumped him or not is unclear now. Once body contact is ruled, both results will be canceled. If they want to play dirty, this is probably just the beginning.”

Qing Ye could see Xing Wu’s expression darken. He walked to the sideline, grabbed his towel, and turned to look at Da Cao. Da Cao raised two fingers to his forehead, giving him a contemptuous wave.

Everything felt so familiar. Qing Ye suddenly remembered what they had said at Huang Mao’s house – Da Cao wanted to pay Xing Wu back in the same way he had withdrawn from the competition years ago.

Xing Wu must have understood Da Cao’s expression now. He gave Da Cao a cold smile and turned away, throwing his towel aside.

Time crept forward slowly as the sun moved silently overhead, yet couldn’t pierce through the thick cloud cover, leaving the entire competition field shrouded in a murky darkness – oppressive and stifling.

In the fourth event, the shot put, Da Cao faltered. His throwing posture was strange; every time he was about to release, it seemed like his strength suddenly failed him. Da Hei watched silently before suddenly saying, “Da Cao injured his arm in a fight two years ago. This event is impossible for him.”

Just as Da Hei said, Da Cao’s results were even worse than those of the shorter competitors before him. Xing Wu’s figure was mixed among the crowd. After Da Cao finished his shot put, Qing Ye’s eyes never left Xing Wu. But suddenly, something happened – Xing Wu abruptly crouched down, clutching his left knee, his features contorting in pain.

Instantly, the stands erupted in commotion. Hua Bi and the others all stood up, staring intently at Xing Wu. The referee went to check on him, but Xing Wu quickly patted his trouser leg, stood up, and coldly shook his head. Seeing he was fine, the competition continued.

Xing Wu stood in place with his hands in front, waiting, but Qing Ye’s heart had already jumped to her throat. Something was wrong, definitely wrong. Something must have happened just now.

She knew better than anyone that Xing Wu wouldn’t even furrow his brow for minor aches and pains, but his reaction just now suggested he was in severe pain. What exactly had happened?

Qing Ye could no longer contain herself, her hands pressed against her sides, tightly clenched into fists. But Xing Wu’s expression remained neutral, showing no signs of trouble. This included when he walked to the throwing point and completed the entire competition without showing any abnormality. The competition results even earned cheers from Da Hei and the others. Huang Mao turned his head and asked, “Brother Da Hei, if Brother Wu wins the final 1500 meters against Da Cao, we’ve won the competition, right?”

Da Hei nodded: “It all comes down to the final event.”

Da Cao’s abilities were already evident in the 200 meters – running was his strength. The 1500-meter race was about endurance, and no one could predict the outcome. The field suddenly became eerily quiet.

Even the senior brothers across the way, who had been bragging earlier, began turning their attention to the track.

Old Dong pulled Xing Wu to the sidelines and was talking to him continuously. Qing Ye noticed that Old Zhu had somehow arrived too, carrying a box of mineral water and distributing bottles to the competing An Zhong students.

When he reached Xing Wu, Old Zhu patted his shoulder. Xing Wu just opened the water bottle without saying a word.

However, Qing Ye noticed that when Xing Wu walked to the sidelines to sit down, he didn’t even bend his left leg, just sat down straight. This casual movement made Qing Ye’s heart tremble. She said tensely, “Xing Wu is injured.”

“Injured?” Huang Mao immediately looked toward Xing Wu, while Da Hei and the others’ expressions darkened.

Pang Hu asked uncertainly, “No, how could that be? Why, why wouldn’t Brother Wu say something?”

Unknown, Qing Ye didn’t know why he hadn’t told the referee. She didn’t know what he was planning. But she was certain something had happened to Xing Wu earlier, and she was now very worried about whether he could endure the upcoming 1500 meters. It was already noon.

This was the final event of their five-event competition with Da Cao. Suddenly, a thin crack appeared in the thick cloud cover, and scorching sunlight penetrated through the fissure onto the center of the field. The eerie scene looked as if half was hell and half was heaven, making the atmosphere of the entire field grow tense.

The announcer declared the 1500-meter race preparation. Xing Wu was the only one from An Zhong who had entered this event. Old Dong personally escorted him to the sidelines, continuously telling him to regulate his breathing and conserve energy.

Xing Wu walked straight past Da Cao to Lane 2. Da Cao was doing warm-up exercises on the spot. After Xing Wu took his position, Da Cao suddenly whistled sharply at him. Xing Wu looked over, and Da Cao provocatively glanced at his knee. Xing Wu coldly wiped the corner of his mouth.

The competition began with a gunshot. Everyone immediately fought for track position. In the chaos, someone stepped on Xing Wu’s foot, but he paid no attention. After one lap, the distances had gradually opened up.

Da Cao led by a considerable margin. The field was completely silent. Qing Ye stared intently at Xing Wu, who maintained a steady pace at a distance behind Da Cao but kept his jaw clenched. Large beads of sweat dripped continuously from his forehead. Qing Ye found it difficult to breathe, the stifling heat in the air reminiscent of her first day in this place – oppressive to the point of suffocation.

After three laps, Xing Wu suddenly began to accelerate, while Da Cao’s stamina was reaching its limit. He caught a glimpse of Xing Wu’s figure in his peripheral vision and began striving forward with a fierce expression. With half a lap to go until the finish line, Xing Wu gradually caught up, and the distance between them shortened to just one body length.

The stands began to stir with commotion. Da Hei alertly watched the An Tang people, sensing something was wrong.

As both continued running, Da Cao and Xing Wu simultaneously moved to Lane 2 to pass a competitor who was a lap behind. Just as they were about to pass him, Xing Wu’s clothes were suddenly yanked – the “rip” sound so sharp it startled everyone.

Immediately after, someone punched Xing Wu hard in the back. Qing Ye covered her mouth in disbelief, saying, “What are they doing? This is still a competition!”

Da Hei saw the restless movements from the An Tang side and suddenly turned pale: “They never came here to compete!”

Xing Wu ignored the person and continued running forward. However, at that moment, the person desperately grabbed Xing Wu’s arm and kicked his knee. Qing Ye cried out in shock as Xing Wu fell heavily onto the track.

At the same time, Da Cao crossed the finish line. The surrounding competitors all gradually stopped running. Qing Ye’s chest heaved violently as she saw Xing Wu’s pale face, saw him struggling to support himself as he stood up, and saw him coldly smiling at Da Cao at the finish line.

He didn’t do anything. When everyone thought he would retaliate, he didn’t move, just looked at Da Cao with that contemptuous gaze, as if looking at a loser.

Da Cao was instantly enraged by that look. He waved his hand, and the man standing beside Xing Wu delivered another kick to his knee. Xing Wu still didn’t dodge or fight back.

Hei Zi roared, “Da Cao wants to cripple Wu Zi!”

Lang Dai and the others instantly exploded, all rushing down from the stands.

Old Dong and Old Yang shouted as they ran toward the track. The referee was blowing his whistle. The An Zhong people jumped over the railings. The scene descended into chaos in an instant. Qing Ye’s mind exploded with a “boom,” and when she looked back at Xing Wu, he was already surrounded by people, countless fists falling on him. Qing Ye’s tears burst forth instantly as she started running toward Xing Wu, but Da Hei grabbed her firmly, panting as he told her, “Go find Quan Ya! Quick! Find him and get help!”

When Qing Ye saw Xing Wu being surrounded, her brain stopped functioning. She stared at Da Hei in terror, all surrounding sounds disappearing in an instant, replaced by a buzzing in her ears, her whole body trembling uncontrollably!

Da Hei kept shouting at her: “Qing Ye! Did you hear me?”

After a moment’s blank, Qing Ye suddenly came to her senses and turned to run outside. Meanwhile, Da Hei had already charged down toward the track. When Qing Ye took one final look back, she could no longer see Xing Wu’s figure, only crowds of people jumping over the railings and surging toward the track.

As Qing Ye ran out of the stadium, her chaotic thoughts suddenly twisted together, her mind flashing back to what Xing Wu had told her in the infirmary.

“Aren’t you smart? Then use your brain.”

“Those girls from Class 4 aren’t without concerns. A girl in our class has issues with them, you can guess who.”

Why would Cao Fan fear Fang Lei? What gave Fang Lei the right to walk around school like she owned it? Fang Lei, Fang Jie.

Qing Ye pulled out her phone and called Fang Lei: “What relation is Fang Jie to you?”

Fang Lei responded somewhat startled, “My cousin.”

“Have your cousin protect Xing Wu, no matter what!”

…

Inside the venue, Brother Fang ended his call, glanced at the senior brothers beside him, and stood up saying, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

He walked to a corner and, when no one was paying attention, gave his men a signal: “Go delay things, let the bullet fly a while longer, there’s still more to come.”