Chapter Thirty-Three: Drinking Blood

At the school, the news of Su Ye’s expulsion spread like wildfire. Every teacher and student was discussing it. Mentor Jian Muqian and Jiu Yuyue, both deeply shocked, had left the martial arts hall right after Su Ye’s test results, due to competition arrangements. Yet, so soon after, the rumor they heard was that Su Ye had been kicked out.

“How can this be? Why was Su Ye expelled? This is nothing but an abuse of power! Su Ye was a genius before—now that he’s recovered, he’s bound to achieve even greater things. How can you turn a blind eye?” Some voiced their outrage for Su Ye, though there were plenty eager to add insult to injury. Knowing Su Ye had been driven out, most considered the Jiang family defeated. To ensure their future, they seized the chance to curry favor with the Yu family.

“Heh, what’s Su Ye worth anyway? Do we still need to rely on him? Any random student from Yangcheng First High is better than him! Senior Yu Zhisha alone is more than enough to guarantee our results.”

“That’s right—someone as useless as Su Ye should have been expelled long ago. Just living is a waste of resources! If he hadn’t been kicked out and met me on the challenge stage, I’d have beaten him to a pulp!”

The jeers came from every direction.

Jiang Liuying forced herself to stay calm. Having taken medicine, her recovery was well underway, but she did not dispute Su Ye’s expulsion. This was the outcome of a clash between families; she had no power to change it.

“Miss, you’ve lost too much blood. Competing like this could be dangerous,” the butler warned anxiously.

Jiang Liuying glanced at her bandaged wrist, the gauze already stained red. She stood up resolutely, voice steady: “I’m fine. My first match is at five in the afternoon. By tomorrow, I’ll be recovered. By the way, Su Ye… what about him?”

Little Die hurried to reply, “I just called. Young Master Su Ye is fine—he’s already begun training hard at home.”

“Good, it’s best he vents his frustration somehow,” Jiang Liuying murmured, nodding heavily.

Soon, Jiang Liuying’s first challenge match arrived.

She was already the school beauty, her every move drawing countless eyes. Given today’s events, even more spectators came to watch, including many talented students from other schools gathering around the arena.

“Miss Jiang, you seem injured? Ha, if you can’t fight, just surrender. I’m quite the gentleman, you know—no worse than Su Ye. I’d hate to hurt a beauty.”

Her opponent, a bespectacled young man from the Spirit Energy class, boasted impressive results to rank in the top thousand.

Seeing the opponent tease Jiang Liuying, many in the crowd began to jeer as well. Jiang Liuying was no longer the untouchable figure she was yesterday. With the Jiang family on the verge of being swallowed by the Yu family, her fate looked bleaker than anyone imagined.

“You’re asking for trouble! On the stage, it doesn’t matter who supports you!” Jiang Liuying clenched her fist and strode into the ring.

“Hmph, you’re forcing me to act. If I hurt you, don’t cry. If you don’t want me to hit you, just give me a kiss—haha, kiss me and I’ll hold back for a minute, what do you say?” The bespectacled man grew bolder with his taunts.

Many students watched, feeling a mix of emotions.

Even if the Jiang family was powerful, even if Jiang Liuying was the school beauty, she was still no match for Yu Zhisha.

Jiang Liuying restrained her impulse. As soon as the referee shouted “Begin,” she dashed forward, using the family’s secret footwork, closing in fast.

The bespectacled opponent tried to grab her, forcing her to retreat. But after only a few steps, she seized an opening, spun, and landed a fierce punch directly on his eye.

The blow shattered his glasses, fragments scattering across the floor. The young man screamed, pointing at Jiang Liuying and shouting, “Foul!”

Jiang Liuying received a warning from the referee. The battle dragged on for nearly ten minutes before she finally emerged victorious.

Breathless and drenched in sweat, she wondered how much harder tomorrow’s ranking matches would be, given how much effort this opponent had demanded.

For some reason, Su Ye’s image flashed in her mind. She muttered to herself, “If only he were here.”

But she shook her head—Su Ye had been expelled. Now, she could only rely on herself.

Clutching her injured wrist, she went straight back to her dorm to rest.

…

Early the next morning, at the Jiang household.

Su Ye had not slept all night, training until exhaustion. His mind was consumed by thoughts of the school competition.

He was eager to know the outcome, but since the matches were still ongoing and Jiang Liuying had stayed overnight at the school, he couldn’t get any updates.

All he could do now was strive to become stronger. Even if he couldn’t defeat Yu Zhisha at school, the collision between the Yu and Jiang families promised further opportunities.

His chance would surely come.

“Young Master Su Ye, breakfast is ready!” The third butler, ever diligent, served three punctual meals a day.

Su Ye wiped the sweat from his brow and suddenly asked, “Third butler, what technique did Liuying practice that made her so weak?”

“Miss practices only the ancestral techniques; nothing went wrong! Her weakness is simply due to excessive blood loss,” the butler explained earnestly.

Su Ye grew more puzzled, “Why did she lose so much blood? Is it from the wound on her wrist? Little Die said she was bitten by the Blood Amber Spirit Beast while getting the blood amber for me. That girl—she should be more careful.”

“Young Master, that’s unavoidable. To cultivate blood amber, one must feed the spirit beast with Jiang family blood. Miss always offers her blood willingly.”

“What did you say?”

Su Ye froze, memories flooding his mind. Every time Jiang Liuying gave him blood amber, she was weak, her wounds reopened.

He had laughed at her for being clumsy, never realizing each blood amber was paid for with her own blood.

That meant his breakthroughs were bought with Jiang Liuying’s blood. He had been drinking her blood all along!

“She volunteered to feed the spirit beast?”

The butler replied, “Yes. The spirit beast accepts only Jiang family blood, so only Miss can do it. She said it’s worth it—just a little blood for your cultivation, and she’ll recover soon enough.”

Buzz—

Su Ye’s mind reeled. He and Jiang Liuying had always bickered, but this foolish girl had been quietly sacrificing so much for him.

She never once admitted it.

No wonder she was so weak, no wonder her expression was so complicated when he was expelled.

Three months, so many blood ambers—it could never be as simple as “just replenish it.”

Su Ye grew flustered. He picked up his phone and dialed Jiang Liuying, but no one answered; she must be at the ranking match now.

He longed to stand beside her, fighting together.

Holding his phone, he suddenly noticed the message Ning Shuang sent yesterday. He hadn’t bothered to read it then, but now he immediately called her.

Ning Shuang answered, “Hey, you’re back to normal? Finally decided to call me?”

Su Ye asked cautiously, “Yes. You said in your message you knew I was expelled—your sources are impressive. You also said you could help me. How?”

Ning Shuang laughed, “Our Yu family oversees all schools in Yangcheng—of course I know. Every rumor is reported directly to me.”

Su Ye now understood why Ning Shuang always claimed to know everything about the schools, and why the principal personally received her at Yangcheng First High.

Such powerful connections.

He asked, “So you have the authority to let me compete again?”

“I do! But regardless of what place you earn, I get to pick three items from your prize first,” Ning Shuang replied.

Su Ye was beside himself with joy. He’d heard the first prize was generous, and even students from other schools had come for a certain special reward.

“Alright—I accept!”