Bab 279: Turnamen Karakter Ilahi (2)
Di luar.
Semua orang bingung. Kedua warna tetap sama seperti semula. Seolah-olah keduanya sama kuat.
Tapi jika dilihat lebih dekat, ekspresi Su Yu tetap tenang sementara Hu Zongji mulai berkeringat. Jelas, pertarungan ini jauh lebih melelahkan baginya dibandingkan Su Yu.
"Apa yang terjadi?"
"Sama kuat?"
"Su Yu seharusnya punya keunggulan sedikit, tapi tidak terlalu mencolok..."
Orang kerumunan mulai berbincang. Satu menit, dua menit...
Akhirnya, Hu Zongji mulai gemetar.
Setelah pertarungan sebelumnya yang selesai hampir secara instan, waktu yang dihabiskan Su Yu dan Hu Zongji membuat semua orang menjadi tidak sabar dan bingung. Justru, mengapa kedua warna masih tersebar merata di bola itu?
...
Di depan kerumunan, mata Liu Hong bersinar.
Setelah sekian lama, dia sepertinya menyadari sesuatu lalu mengutuk dalam hatinya bahwa Su Yu memang benar-benar tidak malu. Siswa yang bodoh itu, Hu Zongji, mungkin sedang melawan ilusi.
Su Yu pasti telah menciptakan lawan ilusori untuk Hu Zongji sebelum mundur dan menyaksikan pertunjukannya. Tidak ada cara lain untuk menjelaskan apa yang terjadi.
"Dia sedang bermain-main dengan lawannya."
Liu Hong tidak bisa berkata apa-apa. Jika Su Yu benar-benar bisa melakukan itu, sebaiknya dia lebih cepat saja mengalahkan lawan ini. Anak itu pasti tidak lemah. Hu Zongji mungkin tidak mampu mengerti ilusi yang diciptakan oleh karakter kedua.
Su Yu hanya perlu menghabiskan sedikit kekuatan kehendak untuk mempertahankan ilusi sementara Hu Zongji mungkin akan menghabiskan lebih banyak kekuatan kehendak melawan ilusi.
...
Dan tebakan Liu Hong benar.
Di dalam gua.
Dengan lengan-sudutnya terentang dan senyum di wajahnya, Su Yu menyaksikan dengan santai sementara Hu Zongji gila melawan udara kosong tidak jauh dari sana. Setelah sekian lama, dia mengangguk leher.
Jadi, anak itu...begitu lemah.
Dia sempat berpikir ilusinya lemah. Setelah semua, Zheng Yunhui telah berhasil dengan cepat menembus ilusinya. Bahkan ilusi tingkat keduanya tidak mampu menipu Zheng Yunhui dalam waktu lama. Tapi lihatlah Hu Zongji. Bahkan setelah sekian lama, dia masih dengan semangkus melawan udara.
"Orang ini mencemoohku di balik punggungku. Haruskah aku membalasnya?"
Tapi tidak lama kemudian, Su Yu tersenyum. Dia memberi perintah pada dirinya bahwa dia tidaklah seorang yang sekebuhan. Oleh karena itu, bayangan di depan mata Hu Zongji kabur sebelum Su Yu muncul kembali di depan matanya. Su Yu yang sebelumnya penuh luka diganti dengan Su Yu yang sudah pulih sepenuhnya.
Hu Zongji terdiam sejenak.
Su Yu membuka mulutnya hanya untuk teringat bahwa dia tidak bisa bicara di dalam gua ini. Oleh karena itu, dia menggunakan kekuatannya untuk menulis sesuatu di depan dirinya: "Sudah lima menit, Saudaraku. Maafkan saya, tapi aku harus menang. Jangan khawatir, akan kusimpan agar kekalahanmu tidak terlalu menyakitkan..."
Hu Zongji sedikit terkejut, namun segera setelemah itu muncul api amarah di hatinya. Apa artinya itu? Apakah Su Yu benar-benar mengira dia akan menang hanya karena dia ingin menang? Pikiran itu baru saja muncul di pikirannya ketika petir gemilang muncul di langit di atasnya.
BANG!
Meskipun tidak ada suara di dalam gua, dia masih bisa bayangkan gemericik petir ketika petir gemilang itu menyinar. Tubuh kekuatannya langsung runtuh.
...
Di luar.
Sebentar saja, bola itu dipenuhi dengan emas.
Hu Zongji mengangkat wajah pucatnya untuk melihat Su Yu.
Sementara itu, Su Yu mempunyai ekspresi permintaan maaf saat memberi salam kepada Hu Zongji. Ketika Hu Zongji menyadari bahwa Su Yu tidak kelelahan sama sekali, ekspresinya berubah. Dan ketika dia teringat apa yang dikatakan Su Yu di dalam gua, wajahnya memburuk.
Semuanya begitu berbeda? Apakah Su Yu benar-benar tidak menggunakan banyak kekuatannya dalam pertarungan ini? Jadi, semua luka yang dialami Su Yu dari semua pedang itu sesuatu yang dia biarkan terjadi dengan sengaja? Agar Hu Zongji tidak kalah Terlalu sial?
Hingga detik ini pun, dia masih tidak menyadari bahwa Su Yu yang terluka hanyalah ilusi. Sebaliknya, ia menyimpulkan bahwa Su Yu membiarkan serangannya mengena dengan disengaja. Ia merasa tidak nyaman dan tidak berdaya. Apakah perbedaan antara mereka begitu besar?
Ketika ia teringat bagaimana dia mendesak Su Yu di belakang, bagaimana dia mencela fisik kultivasi Su Yu, kekuatan kehendak, dan Karakter Ilahinya... Rasa malu menyatu padu di dalam hatinya.
Jika Su Yu adalah siswa tinggi-tinggi palsu, lalu apa dengan dirinya? Dan Su Yu bahkan repot-repot memperpanjang pertarungan selama lima menit agar kekalahannya tidak terlalu menyakitkan.
Makin dia memikirkannya, makin ia merasa malu. Dengan kepalanya menunduk, ia membungkuk tangan ke arah Su Yu dan dengan enggan berkata, "Terima kasih telah memberi saya pengasoalan, Saudara Su. Aku memang bukan tandinganmu."
Kemudian ia berbalik dan kembali ke kerumunan, terlihat suram dan putus asa.
Su Yu tidak berkata apa-apa dan kembali ke kerumunan juga. Dia mendekat ke Hu Zongji dan menunggu sebelum pertarungan berikutnya dimulai, lalu bertanya, "Saudaraku Hu, kamu tidak marah denganku, kan? Sebenarnya, Karakter Ilahimu sangat kuat. Tapi aku merasa kamu menyebar serangan terlalu luas. Pernah kamu mempertimbangkan untuk menggabungkan seranganmu lebih? Membuat banyak pedang terlihat sangat bagus, tapi jujur, membuat begitu banyak pedang hanya akan menyebar energimu. Pedang-pedang itu tidak bisa melukaku karena lemah secara individu."
Hu Zongji dengan canggung bertanya, "Benarkah begitu?"
"Iya." Su Yu serius menjawab, "Jika kamu hanya menggunakan satu pedang, meskipun pedang itu mungkin tidak tahan lama, dia mungkin bisa memberiku luka serius dan membuatku harus mundur dengan Karakter Ilahiku. Tapi dalam pertarungan kita, semakin lama berlangsung, semakin lemah kamu. Aku bisa melihat seranganmu melemah di akhir."
Hu Zongji mengangguk dengan ekspresi yang mengagumi dan berkata, "Benar. Kakakku dan kakekku memberi tahu sama saya. Tapi karena mereka tidak bisa melihat Karakter Ilahiku, saya tidak pernah menganggapnya serius. Saudaraku Su..."
"Panggil saja aku Su Yu. Kita sudah cukup akrab. Selain itu, kita pernah bertemu bahkan sebelum masuk akademi. Jodihurufan yang membawa kita bersatu. Sayangnya, hubungan kita rusak setelah masuk ke akademi.
"Pada masa itu, kamu juga mengundangku untuk bergabung dengan Klub Tianshui. Untungnya, aku tidak gabung. Jika tidak...ach. Dengan identitasku sebagai anggota faksi karakter banyak, kamu mungkin akan menderita karena merekrut seseorang sebagai menyusahkan seperti aku."
Hu Zongji tersenyum kecut dan berkata, "Kamu mungkin benar. Dulu kamu tidak menyadarinya. Aku bahkan marah karena kamu menolak tawaranmu. Tapi sekarang, mereka ingin bilang, cukup lucu. Jika kamu menerima undanganku, aku mungkin akan menyesal."
Makin dia berbicara, makin malu dia merasa. Dia menurunkan suaranya dan berkata, "Su Yu, kuberharap dapat meminta maaf atas apa yang kudulukan dulu. Sebenarnya, setelah ujian bulanan sebelumnya, aku memahami bahwa kamu pasti layak menjadi siswa tinggi-tinggi. Aku hanya kesulitan menerimanya. Setelah semua, Nanyuan adalah kota kecil yang miskin... cough, cough. Minta maaf."
"Tidak apa-apa-apa." Su Yu tersenyum, "Itu wajar. Di Nanyuan pun, aku akan merasa aku lebih baik dari orang-orang yang tinggal di pinggiran kota. Jika seseorang yang benar-benar luar biasa muncul dari pinggiran, aku mungkin akan merasa aku masih lebih baik. Ini adalah cara berpikir yang sepenuhnya normal."
"Su Yu." Hu Zongji berkata, "Kamu tidak perlu menahan diri selama pertarungan. Aku dengar orang membandingkan kamu dengan peserta sebelumnya seperti Xia Chan. Mereka mengatakan kamu...entah bagaimana, aku yakin kamu pasti tidak lebih lemah dari orang-orang itu."
Su Yu dengan lembut berkata, "Tidak apa-apa-apa. Kita sudah lama akrab jadi alami kuharus memberi perlakuan istimewa. Tak masalah apa yang orang pikirkan tentangku. Aku tidak akan kehilangan apa-apatun. Aku akan menunggu sampai aku bertemu seseorang dari faksi karakter tunggal. Waktu itu, akan kuingajar apa artinya kemarahan. Aku juga akan menggunakan kesempatan itu untuk menunjukkan seberapa kuat kamu selama lima menit melawanku."
Alih-alih merasa malu, Hu Zongji merasa gembira mendengar kata-kata itu, "Lalu aku harus waspada. Aku sebenarnya ingin pergi dulu, tapi sekarang, aku akan tetap di sini dan menunggu. Semoga lawan berikutmu dari faksi karakter tunggal. Kali ini, jangan menahan diri dan hancurin lawanmu. Aku yakin kamu sangat kuat."
Su Yu mengangguk.
...
Di tempat lain, Liu Hong mempunyai ekspresi aneh di matanya.
Breng... Sekali!
Apa kali ini anak ini mencoba lakukan? Dia adalah seorang siswa dari Nanyuan, seorang anggota faksi karakter banyak, seseorang yang seharusnya semua orang benci. Tapi bagaimana bisa dia bisa berhasil di akademi ini?
Sekarang ini, siswa kelas menengah masih memanggil Su Yu sebagai ketua kelas mereka. Sementara ketua kelas baru mereka justru disapa dengan sebutan nama. Untuk faksi karakter banyak, para lawatannya mungkin akan segera menjadi saudaranya. Bahkan siswa yang bodoh itu sudah melihat Su Yu sebagai saudaranya. Apa-apaan ini?
Xia Huyou, Wu Lan, Zheng Yunhui, Hu Zongji, Lin Yao...
Orang-orang yang seharusnya musuhnya kini begitu akrab dengan dia sehingga seperti saudara kandung. Liu Hong menekan keningnya. Apakah anak ini sedang mencoba menjadi raja jaringan sosial?
Hu Zongji dan orang-orang lain benar-benar tidak berharga. Setelah dikalahkan oleh Su Yu, untuk suatu alasan, mereka semua merasa bersyukur. Apa yang salah dengan mereka?
Liu Hong betul-betul tidak bisa berkata apa-apa. Di tempat yang sama, Wu Qi juga sedang memperhatikan Su Yu. Setelah sementara, dia bertanya, "Jika kamu adalah dia, apa yang akan kamu lakukan selanjutnya?"
Liu Hong langsung menjawab, "Menampilkan kekejamann dan kebaikan sekaligus."
...
Wu Qi tersenyum, "Aku mengerti. Orang seperti Hu Zongji bisa digiring dan diubah menjadi temannya. Orang yang tidak bisa digiring, akan langsung dihancurkan untuk menunjukkan kekuatannya. Dengan cara itu, Hu Zongji akan merasa bersyukur kepadanya sementara musuhnya akan lebih takut. Apa itu artinya?"
Liu Hong tertawa kering, "Itu hanya tebakan sembarangan."
"Tidak, aku yakin inilah yang dia pikirkan." Wu Qi berkata, "Pasti. Karena kalian berdua adalah jenis orang yang sama. Beri dia kesempatan. Di antara siswa baru faksi karakter tunggal, Lin Yao adalah lawan yang sempurna untuk dia. Susun agar dia bertemu Lin Yao selanjutnya..."
Liu Hong batu jauh. Itu tidak akan berhasil. Setelah semua...Lin Yao sudah beralih kepadanya Su Yu.
"Tidak, biarkan Zheng Hong pergi." Liu Hong tersenyum, "Dia ingin menghancurkan lawannya, kan? Tapi akan terlalu membosankan jika rencananya berjalan lancar. Biarkan Zheng Hong melawan dia dan merusakin rencananya. Reputasinyya akan benar-benar hancur."
Setelah semua, Su Yu telah menghabiskan lima menit untuk mengalahkan Hu Zongji. Jika dia dikalahkan oleh Zheng Hong berikutnya, semua orang akan percaya bahwa Su Yu lemah.
Ya. Kenapa Liu Hong harus membiarkan rencana anak ini berjalan? Breng... Sekali! Bagaimana anak ini senantiasa meniruku?! Begitu jahat!
Liu Hong memutuskan untuk mengajar pelajaran pada Su Yu dan membuatnya merasakan kejamannya masyarakat ini.
Chapter 279: Divine Character Tournament (2)
Outside.
Everyone was confused. The two colors remained the same as it was. It was as though the two were evenly matched.
But if one looked closer, one would notice that Su Yu's expression was as calm as ever while Hu Zongji was starting to sweat. Clearly, this fight was much more exhausting for him than Su Yu.
"What's happening?"
"Evenly matched?"
"Su Yu should have a slight upper hand, but it's not too obvious..."
The crowd started talking among themselves. One minute, two minutes...
Finally, Hu Zongji started shaking.
After the previous matches that had ended almost instantly, the minutes Su Yu and Hu Zongji were taking caused everyone to grow both impatient and confused. Just why were the two colors still evenly spread among the ball?
...
In front of the crowd, Liu Hong's eyes flickered.
After a while, he seemed to have realized something as he cursed inwardly that Su Yu was truly too shameless. That idiotic Hu Zongji was probably fighting against illusions.
Su Yu had most likely generated an illusory opponent for Hu Zongji to fight before standing aside to enjoy the show. Otherwise, there was no way to explain what was happening.
"He's toying with his opponent."
Liu Hong was speechless. If Su Yu could do that, he might as well speedily defeat this opponent. That kid was definitely not weak. Hu Zongji probably had no way of seeing through the illusions created by a second tier character.
Su Yu only needed to exhaust some of his willpower to maintain the illusion while Hu Zongji would probably exhaust much more willpower fighting illusions.
...
And Liu Hong's guess was right.
Inside the grotto.
With his arms crossed and a smile on his face, Su Yu was watching leisurely as Hu Zongji was madly doing battle with thin air not far away. After a while, he shook his head.
So this fellow was...so weak.
He had thought that his illusions were weak. After all, Zheng Yunhui had been able to instantly break through his illusions. Even his second tier illusions weren't able to fool Zheng Yunhui for long. But look at Hu Zongji. Even after so long, he was still fighting the air vigorously.
"This idiot has been slandering me behind my back. Should I take my revenge on him?"
But soon, Su Yu smiled. He told himself that he was not such a petty person. Thus, the vision before Hu Zongji's eyes blurred before Su Yu reappeared before his eyes. The previous Su Yu who was filled with wounds had been replaced by a Su Yu who was as good as new.
Hu Zongji blanked out momentarily.
Su Yu opened his mouth only to be reminded that he couldn't talk inside this grotto. Thus, he used his willpower and wrote something in front of him: "It has been five minutes, Brother Hu. My apologies, but I must win. Don't worry, I won't let your defeat look too bad..."
Hu Zongji was slightly stunned, but immediately after, rage bubbled out of his heart. What did that signify? Did Su Yu think that he would win just because he wanted to win? That thought had just crossed his mind when a massive bolt of lightning appeared above him.
Boom!
Even though there was no sound in the grotto, he could still imagine the rumbling thunder when the massive bolt of lightning struck. His willpower body instantly crumbled apart.
...
Outside.
Instantly, the ball was covered in gold.
Hu Zongji raised his pale face to look at Su Yu.
Meanwhile, Su Yu had an apologetic look as he gave Hu Zongji a slight bow. When Hu Zongji noticed that Su Yu did not look one bit tired, his expression changed. And when he recalled what Su Yu said inside the grotto, his face turned ugly.
Was the gap between them so big? Su Yu had not even used much of his strength in the fight? So were all the injuries Su Yu had sustained from all those swords something he had deliberately allowed to happen? So that Hu Zongji would not lose too badly?
Even up until this moment, he was still unaware that the wounded Su Yu was merely an illusion. Instead, he concluded that Su Yu was intentionally allowing his attacks to hit. He felt both humiliated and helpless. Was the gap between them really so big?
When he recalled how he had been calling Su Yu a fake high-high student, how he had talked bad about Su Yu's physical cultivation, willpower strength, and Divine Characters...a sense of shame welled up within him.
If Su Yu was a fake high-high student, what was him? And Su Yu had even gone through the effort of extending their fight for five minutes so that his defeat wouldn't look too bad.
The more Hu Zongji thought about it, the more shameful he felt. With his head lowered, he cupped his hands at Su Yu and bitterly said, "Thank you for showing me leniency, Brother Su. I am not your match."
He then turned around and walked back to the crowd, looking bleak and disheartened.
Su Yu did not say anything and returned to the crowd as well. He approached Hu Zongji and waited until the next match began before asking, "Brother Hu, you're not angry at me, right? In truth, your Divine Character is very strong. But I feel like you spread your attacks too much. Have you considered concentrating your attacks more? Having countless swords look very good, but if I'm being honest, creating so many swords only serves to spread yourself thin. Those swords can't hurt me since they are too weak individually."
Hu Zongji awkwardly asked, "Is that the case?"
"Yeah." Su Yu seriously said, "If you had only used one sword, even if the sword couldn't last too long, it would probably be able to deal me serious injuries and force me to withdraw my Divine Characters. But during our match, you only got weaker the longer the fight dragged on. I could clearly feel your attacks weakening toward the end."
Hu Zongji nodded with a pensive look and said, "True. My elder brother and granduncle told me the same. But since they can't see my Divine Character, I never took their advice seriously. Brother Su..."
"Just call me Su Yu. We have known each other for a while. In fact, we met before even entering the academy. Fate clearly intends to bring us together. But it's a pity that our relationship deteriorated after entering the academy.
"At that time, you even invited me to join the Tianshui Club. Fortunately, I didn't join. Otherwise...sigh. With my identity as a member of the multiple character faction, you would probably suffer the blame for recruiting someone as troublesome as me."
Hu Zongji smiled awkwardly and said, "You're probably right. I wasn't aware of that back then. I was even angry that you refused my kind offer. But now that I think about it, it's actually quite funny. If you had accepted my invitation, I would have probably regretted it."
The more he spoke, the more awkward he felt. He lowered his voice and said, "Su Yu, I would like to apologize for what I did in the past. In truth, after the previous monthly exam, I understood that you are definitely deserving of being a high-high student. I was merely finding it hard to accept. After all, Nanyuan is such a poor city...cough, cough. Excuse me..."
"It's fine." Su Yu smiled, "It's normal. Even in Nanyuan, I would think that I am better than those living in the outskirts of the city. Even if someone truly amazing appears from the outskirts, I would probably think that I am still better. This is a completely normal mindset."
"Su Yu." Hu Zongji said, "You didn't have to hold back during the match. I heard others comparing you against the previous participants like Xia Chan. They said that you...anyway, I believe you are definitely no weaker than those people."
Su Yu gently said, "It's fine. We are old acquaintances so I naturally needed to give you a special treatment. It doesn't matter what they think about me. I won't lose anything. I'll wait until I meet someone from the single character faction. At that time, I'll show them what fury means. I will also use that opportunity to show others how strong you are for being able to last five minutes against me."
Instead of feeling humiliated, Hu Zongji felt excited upon hearing those words, "Then I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. I was planning to leave, but now, I'll stay and wait. Hopefully, your next opponent is from the single character faction. This time, don't hold back and crush that opponent. I believe you're very strong."
Su Yu nodded.
...
Meanwhile, Liu Hong had an odd look in his eyes.
Damn it!
What was this kid trying to do?
He was a student from Nanyuan, a member of the multiple character faction, someone everyone should hate. Yet he was actually doing so well in the academy?
Even now, the intermediate class students were still calling Su Yu their class monitor. Meanwhile, their actual new class monitor was being addressed by his name.
As for the senior class, the ex enemies of this fellow were probably going to turn into his sworn brothers soon. Even that stupid student of his was already viewing Su Yu as a brother. Just what was up with all that?
Xia Huyou, Wu Lan, Zheng Yunhui, Hu Zongji, Lin Yao...
The people who should have been his enemies were now so friendly with him that they might as well be brothers. Liu Hong rubbed his temple. Was this fellow trying to become the king of social connections?
Hu Zongji and the others were truly worthless. After being defeated by Su Yu, for some reason, they all felt grateful toward him. What was wrong with them?
Liu Hong was completely speechless. Meanwhile, Wu Qi was also paying close attention to Su Yu. After a while, she asked, "If you're him, what would you do next?"
Liu Hong blurted, "Displaying both ruthlessness and gentleness at the same time."
...
Wu Qi smiled, "I understand. People like Hu Zongji can be roped in and turned into his friend. People he can't rope in will be instantly crushed to demonstrate his strength. That way, Hu Zongji will be filled with gratitude toward him while his enemies will fear him more. Is that what you mean?"
Liu Hong laughed dryly, "That was only a random guess."
"No, I believe that's exactly what he has in mind." Wu Qi said, "Definitely. Because both of you are the same type of people. Let’s give him a chance. Among the new students of the single character faction, Lin Yao is the perfect opponent for him. Arrange for him to meet Lin Yao next..."
Liu Hong coughed. That wouldn't work. After all...Lin Yao had already defected to Su Yu's side.
"No, let Zheng Hong go." Liu Hong smiled, "He's aiming to crush his opponent, right? But it would be too boring to let his plan go smoothly. Let Zheng Hong fight him and foil his plan. His reputation would be completely ruined."
After all, Su Yu had spent five minutes defeating Hu Zongji. If he was defeated by Zheng Hong next, everyone would believe that Su Yu was too weak.
Yes. Why should Liu Hong let the kid's plan go through? Damn that kid for imitating him all the time! How shameless! Liu Hong decided to teach Su Yu a lesson and let the kid experience the cruelty of the society.
Wu Qi said, "Zheng Hong? That is one of the eight freaks. If he ends up losing, Su Yu would further solidify his standing. Are you sure?"
"Losing?"
Liu Hong thought about it and decided that he didn't care enough.
After all, if Su Yu could snatch victory and prove his strength, Liu Hong would become even more valuable to the single character faction. And if Su Yu suffered a defeat, others would look down on him even more, giving him more space to grow peacefully. That would also benefit Liu Hong in the long run. He wouldn't lose anything no matter what.
At that thought, Liu Hong smiled and stopped talking. As for manipulating the matches, well, if he couldn't even accomplish something like that, he might as well retire and stop cultivating. That was a simple task.
As for the other researchers present, so what if they noticed what he was doing? Nobody would create trouble for him for the sake of something so trivial. This was never supposed to be a major tournament of the academy. And if a student was strong enough, it wouldn't matter which opponent the student faced.
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