The once peaceful Sparta City was thrown into chaos due to the aggressive actions of the Aldra Family, stirring up a storm. It was as if a stone had been thrown into a stream, causing splashes and ripples.
For two days, Bu had been recuperating in his villa, focusing on healing from his injuries. After the assassination attempt, Warren Earl had clearly begun to take Bu's safety seriously.
Every day, a rotating guard team surrounded the villa, stationed every few steps. Even when Bu occasionally went out, he was accompanied by two teams of guards.
Since learning about the assassination attempt on Bu, Wendy had rushed over in a state of anxiety.
The girl's lovely blue eyes were filled with worried tears, and she urgently inquired about Bu's condition.
Wendy's concern warmed Bu's heart, but after his conversation with the Third Lady, he instinctively began to avoid Wendy's tender gaze and deliberately distanced himself from her.
Although this behavior made him feel uncomfortable, he was at a loss for how to handle his feelings towards Wendy.
Wendy was very sensitive and naturally noticed Bu's intentional distance. She vaguely sensed that he seemed to resist her affection, which left her feeling deeply troubled. Her fragile heart could not bear this inexplicable grievance; it felt as if heavy clouds were pressing down on her.
"Does he not like me anymore?
Was my mother right? Are men fickle-hearted? Does Brent feel the same way?
What should I do? If he no longer likes me, what should I do? Should I try to win him back? Crying to win him back?"
Wendy's thoughts were chaotic and filled with sorrow. This was the first man she liked, but was it all coming to an end? It seemed to be over before it even began.
In the end, Wendy suppressed her panic and sadness. She forced a smile and comforted Bu, urging him to focus on his recovery.
The girl's face was somewhat pale; the pure joy that once graced her features was gone, replaced by a forced smile that felt bitter.
Is this the helplessness of falling in love?
Even if her heart felt bitter, the heart she offered to her beloved remained sweet. Perhaps when he finally opened his heart, he would realize that what she gave was sweetness while she kept bitterness inside.
The third day passed slowly; time seemed to be asleep, forgetting to continue its run and losing track of day and night.
Sitting dazedly on a rockery in the courtyard, his expression was complex, alternating between laughter and melancholy.
In his gaze flowed a memory, one filled with joy and happiness. Yet, within the heart of the one recalling it, there was a silent sorrow that seemed to reveal joy amidst the sadness.
He did not know whether what he had done was right or wrong. However, when he made this choice, he had already hurt Wendy and damaged their relationship.
But if he had not acted this way, he would have felt uneasy, continuing to develop with Wendy would have pushed her into a fire pit. It would have placed her in a dilemma between family and love, tearing her heart apart.
Love is selfless, yet this seemingly selfless act of his was profoundly selfish.
He thought it was for Wendy's good, to spare her from facing a difficult situation in the future. Yet he failed to consider that this seemingly kind gesture also hurt her, and in a more direct and painful way.
Love is inherently a matter between two people; one cannot bear it alone. You can never fully understand the thoughts of the other. Even with mutual understanding, human emotions often undergo unexpected changes. He had taken it upon himself to resolve their shared issue without considering how Wendy truly felt.
This was selfish. A relationship begins with a spark of attraction, grows tender like flowing water, and endures trials like storms that leave it battered and bruised, only to heal through warmth and understanding.
Such a fragile relationship becomes even more precious through hardships, yet he carelessly dealt it a heavy blow, causing pain to both himself and the one he loved.
Yet happiness is when two hearts understand each other; pain is when two hearts suffer together.
Aside from Wendy visiting him a couple of days ago to check on his condition, today the figure of Girl had not appeared.
He could sense Wendy's sadness. Watching Girl's delicate and sorrowful demeanor made him want to comfort her many times. However, when the words reached his lips, he lacked the courage to speak and could only watch as Wendy left with a downcast expression.
As dusk fell, the sun set and the moon rose, night arrived as expected. Bu Mo sighed softly and came back to his senses.
At first, his expression was confused, but gradually his eyes began to shine brighter, like brilliant stars radiating dazzling light.
To grow strong—this was the only way he could save himself. Only by becoming powerful enough could he grasp his own destiny and protect his own happiness.
A day passed.
As the first rays of sunlight descended upon the land on this winter day, the three-day rest period came to an end, and the Seed Selection Tournament in Sparta City commenced as scheduled.
On this day, Sparta City was bustling like never before. People flocked early to the Aris Arena, crowding the main square of the Gladiatorial Arena to the point where it was nearly impassable.
Nobles, warriors, wealthy merchants, and commoners.
These four groups, which rarely gathered together, represented strict class divisions and authority.
Yet today, they all congregated in one place. Although they formed large circles apart from each other, it was still a rare and grand scene.
A large crowd meant excitement and opportunities for business.
The Thunderous Merchant Guild seized this opportunity decisively, sending personnel to set up gambling booths at the entrance of the Aris Arena, opening betting markets to reap huge profits.
Everyone has a gambling nature, though it can vary greatly.
Once the Thunderous Merchant Guild opened their gambling house, many rushed in. Those who bet small amounts sought amusement, while those who wagered larger sums were driven by greed and luck.
With such a powerful force as the Thunderous Merchant Guild backing them, they were not worried about losing their bets.
Time passed slowly; as the sun rose higher in the sky, all the doors of the Gladiatorial Arena suddenly swung open, revealing pathways leading inside. Impatient individuals had already begun to make their way in.
When the Aldra Family's carriage arrived at the noble parking area of the Aris Arena, there was less than an hour left until the Seed Selection Tournament began.
At this time, the crowd inside the Aris Arena had shrunk significantly; most had entered the Gladiatorial Arena to await the start of the competition. A few remained behind, either gathered around the Thunderous Merchant Guild's gambling area or chatting in small groups.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Bu and his companions disembarked and walked into the arena. Today their group had grown larger; the number of guards increased to one more person. Perhaps it was due to Bu's recent assassination attempt that Earl Warren took extra precautions for their safety.
The sudden arrival of such a large group naturally attracted attention from all sides.
Various gazes swept over them with differing expressions—some wary and cautious, others showing concern or fear—but none dared to provoke them.
Recently, the actions of the Aldra Family have left the people of Sparta City in a state of panic.
The two forces that were eliminated served as a warning to everyone; they all understood that this was a demonstration of power, meant to remind others that the authority of the Aldra Family is not to be violated.
Wendy walked in the middle of the group with her head down. She no longer had the cheerful and lively demeanor she had when she first arrived, and she remained silent. The girl appeared quite depressed, her face pale and haggard; in just a short span of two days, she looked significantly worn out.
Bu Chenmo walked at the front of the group, while Warren Earl beside him seemed to sense something, casting a glance at both Bu and Wendy with an expression that held an inexplicable nuance.
Vulture-faced Bill followed behind everyone with a gloomy expression, lost in thoughts that seemed sinister.
As they walked in silence, they soon found themselves at the viewing platform.
The rules and format of the Seed Selection Tournament in Sparta City were vastly different from those of the previous rounds; this selection round would be conducted through individual duels.
The eight champions from the previous eight rounds of Qualification Challenge, along with the first place from the elimination round, would total nine contestants competing against each other.
A points system would be used: winning against an opponent earns one point, losing deducts one point, and ties do not affect points. The final rankings would be determined by the total points accumulated by each contestant, with the top three advancing.
In other words, a perfect score would be eight points, and Bu would have to compete against each of the other eight contestants individually. Winning a match earns one point, losing deducts one point, until all eight matches are completed to determine his final score.
This method of individual competition completely eliminates any possibility of luck playing a role; no contestant could advance simply because their opponents happened to be weaker.
It relies entirely on skill.
Of course, if two contestants end up with the same score, their rankings would then be determined by their previous head-to-head results; whoever won their earlier match would rank higher.
Bu had already clarified the rules of the Seed Selection Tournament with Locke and felt no significant pressure regarding this competition. He was confident in his abilities; even if he found it difficult to secure first place, he was still very confident about finishing in the top three.
Before this, Warren Earl had already provided Bu with detailed information about all the contestants and urged him to study it carefully.
Among the other eight participants, aside from Reynold, whom Bu was somewhat familiar with, he did not know the other seven at all.
After carefully reviewing the information, among the eight contestants, Reynold wields a longsword and is at the peak of Low-Level strength, possessing more than three Low-Level skills. His power is the strongest among the many participants, and he has garnered the highest support for winning the championship.
Among the seven contestants, three caught Bu's attention.
One is a young man named Kalandor, who is at Low-Level strength and possesses at least one Low-Level skill. His speed is astonishing; during previous matches, opponents often fell before they could even see his figure, and no one has managed to last more than five moves against him.
The second contestant is a fellow named Kozmo, who is surprisingly a Low-Level magician that has also trained in some basic Combat Skills. When engaging in battle, opponents often find themselves heavily injured and retreating before they can even close in on him due to his relentless barrage of magic. It is said that he is proficient in four or five powerful Low-Level spells and hails from an ancient magical family.
As for the third contestant, he emerged as the first place winner from the elimination rounds. Bu did not regard this person's strength highly; what truly caught his attention was that the first place winner of the elimination round was Kashati, who had secured second place in the second round of the Qualification Challenge.
Kashati's achievement in winning first place in the elimination round was indeed unexpected for Bu. He had initially thought that this woman would ultimately falter in the elimination rounds but was surprised to see her reach the end with her strength.
Comment 0 Comment Count