The woman’s appearance was somewhat unattractive, but when she saw Duan Rong looking at her, her gaze shifted slightly.
At that moment, the woman had some doubts, wondering if Duan Rong was interested in her. Otherwise, why would he help her, and why did he just glance at her?
Shen Mizi saw Duan Rong speak like this, and with Duan Rong’s gaze deep as ink and demeanor steady as a mountain, her expression tightened slightly, feeling somewhat shaken. But when she thought of Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan both passing the first round, yet she would have to compete for another round, and the result was uncertain, her anger welled up. "If you can’t explain, then don’t bother!"
As Shen Mizi spoke, she turned around and left.
Duan Rong shook his head slightly.
Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong with a somewhat pained expression. She believed that Duan Rong must have his reasons for acting this way.
Duan Rong looked at Xiao Yu and said, "This girl is stubborn. She listens to you, so try to persuade her. Rest well, and prepare for the second round."
As Duan Rong spoke, he stuffed a bottle of pills into Xiao Yu’s hand.
Xiao Yu said, "That girl speaks without restraint, and some words are hurtful."
Duan Rong said, "It’s okay. Everyone loses their composure after losing. You go ahead."
Xiao Yu responded with a sound of acknowledgment, gave Duan Rong a deep look, and turned to leave.
Ximen Kankan watched the two leave, looked at Duan Rong, and asked, "Does Shen Mizi really have no chance?"
Duan Rong said, "No chance at all. She will definitely lose!"
Upon hearing this, Ximen Kankan’s gaze shifted. He actually had some doubts in his mind, but Duan Rong’s eyes told him the outcome would be as Duan Rong said.
Duan Rong must have seen something he couldn’t see, just like when Duan Rong pointed out the opponent’s martial arts weaknesses during his battles.
After Shen Mizi and Xiao Yu left, Duan Rong began to wander leisurely on the large platform, his gaze sweeping over the circle of those competing, occasionally pausing, but only for a few moments.
Ximen Kankan followed beside Duan Rong. At first, he chatted with Duan Rong, but he found that Duan Rong was merely responding perfunctorily, while his eyes were intensely focused on the nearby competitions.
Moreover, in many places, he would merely glance without much pause.
The more Ximen Kankan watched, the stranger he found it. He didn’t understand what Duan Rong was doing.
If he were watching the competitions, everyone else would be focused on one circle, observing the outcomes, but Duan Rong was merely glancing, only pausing for a few moments.
If he weren’t watching, yet his eyes were focused.
"What are you doing?" Ximen Kankan observed for a while and couldn’t help but ask.
Duan Rong said, "Watching the competitions!"
Ximen Kankan said, "You seem to be looking quite quickly, like a hurried glance at the flowers on horseback."
Duan Rong said, "I’m only watching their martial arts styles. I’m not concerned with anything else."
"Martial arts styles?" Ximen Kankan listened, somewhat understanding, yet not fully.
About half an hour later, the first round of competitions ended.
With almost no interval, the second round began directly.
In the second round, new numbers were drawn for the queue, and it wasn’t long before it was Shen Mizi’s turn.
Xiao Yu accompanied Shen Mizi towards a numbered circle, while Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan waited not far away and followed them.
As the two walked over, Shen Mizi gave Duan Rong an unfriendly glance.
Shen Mizi approached the vicinity of the designated red circle, seeing a thin man already standing inside. The man’s waist was also adorned with a sword.
Seeing the man also wielding a sword, Shen Mizi felt reassured. Sword against sword, she truly feared no one.
After showing her assessment form to the attendant of the Internal History Department, Shen Mizi was about to enter the circle.
But Duan Rong suddenly called out to her.
Shen Mizi turned her head, confusion in her gaze. "What?"
Duan Rong pulled her aside, suddenly whispering in her ear.
As Shen Mizi listened, she looked at Duan Rong with suspicion. "How do you know?"
"Remember carefully. Do as I say," Duan Rong advised steadfastly.
Shen Mizi was slightly dazed as she looked at Duan Rong.
Suddenly, the thin young man inside the circle shouted, "It’s already this time, and you’re still whispering sweet nothings. Are you going to fight or not?"
Shen Mizi turned her head and said, "What are you yelling for? In a hurry to be reincarnated?"
"You..."
Shen Mizi glanced disdainfully at the young man in the arena and stepped into the ring.
This was already the second round of the duel. The attendant from the Internal History Department did not announce any more rules but directly called for the start.
As soon as the command was given, the two tangled together in combat.
Duan Rong stood by, frowning slightly. This girl Shen Mizi was truly rebellious, born with a contrary nature; the more you tell her something, the more she won’t do as you say.
Duan Rong had already seen the martial arts style of the skinny young man before.
Therefore, before Shen Mizi went on stage, Duan Rong had already instructed her on how to counter him. Her Orchid Chaos Sword was not weak to begin with, and coupled with a well-prepared strategy, exploiting the weaknesses of the skinny young man’s martial arts style, victory should have been assured.
As Duan Rong watched, his frown gradually relaxed.
Although Shen Mizi started chaotically, she quickly began following the strategy he had advised her on.
About the time of half an incense stick, the skinny young man suddenly got hit in the shoulder by a sword, but his gaze remained cold and determined, his sword still swung like the wind.
Sweat had already formed on Shen Mizi’s forehead; the second round was clearly still a tough battle.
A few moments later, the young man’s left leg took another hit from the sword.
Shen Mizi’s sword shadows were elusive, and her sword techniques were even more cunning. The more astonishing thing was that the three Reverse Sword killing techniques, which were originally hidden deadly moves, seemed to be completely seen through by Shen Mizi, rendering them ineffective.
The skinny young man, hit by two swords, was already staggering.
Meanwhile, Shen Mizi’s sword techniques became fiercer, attacking from various cunning angles, leaving the skinny young man barely able to respond when Shen Mizi suddenly withdrew her sword and retreated.
"You lost!"
The young man’s foot had already stepped half out of the ring.
Shen Mizi sheathed her long sword and looked over at the attendant of the Internal History Department, who nodded at her, recorded the results, and announced the outcome.
Shen Mizi then jumped out of the ring.
Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan both smiled and congratulated Shen Mizi because both her matches were quite challenging, but she still managed to pass.
Duan Rong stood behind Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan, his expression unchanged.
Shen Mizi smiled and suddenly looked past Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan towards Duan Rong behind them.
It was then she realized that Duan Rong stood there like a bottomless abyss.
Before her second round of duel, while meditating and calming her breath, she began to quietly feel that Duan Rong was right.
In her first round against the woman, she would probably have lost as well, exhausting herself in attempts to counterattack, and after repeatedly struggling, she would have been defeated due to exhaustion.
If that were the case, in this second round, she absolutely wouldn’t have been able to hold on.
Because in this second round of duel, the skinny youth wielding the sword was not inferior to her either in martial arts skill or True Qi. Moreover, that guy had three fearsome Reverse Sword killing techniques!
If Duan Rong hadn’t instructed her in advance, she would have found it incredibly difficult to cope amidst the chaos.
Shen Mizi now thought back and realized that passing the second round of the assessment was quite a thrilling experience. If it wasn’t for Duan Rong helping her twice, being misunderstood by her the first time yet helping her nevertheless the second time, she wouldn’t have narrowly passed the second round of the assessment.
Duan Rong looked at Shen Mizi with the kind of expression in her eyes and gave her a slight smile.
Shen Mizi never really had the complete trust in him as Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan did, for this kind of trust had been built back in Xianggu County.
Shen Mizi was naturally eccentric, and their familiarity only began after entering the sect. It’s inevitable that there would be psychological barriers.
But Duan Rong believed that after this experience, the trust between Shen Mizi and him was almost no different from that with Xiao Yu and Ximen Kankan.
Shen Mizi walked up to Duan Rong and said, "You were right before; it was my mistake to wrongly accuse you. Upon reflection, if I had continued fighting the first round, I would likely have been defeated due to exhaustion. If that had happened, I wouldn’t have had a chance in the second assessment."
Duan Rong laughed and said, "Those involved are puzzled, while onlookers see clearly. Trapped in the situation, it’s hard for anyone to see the gains and losses. My forcing you to lose was somewhat rash, and you were right to be angry at that time."
Shen Mizi didn’t expect Duan Rong not only wasn’t angry but also pardoned her previous outburst.
Xiao Yu, seeing the misunderstanding between them resolved, sighed with relief, her expression softening.
Shen Mizi looked up at Duan Rong and suddenly asked, "By the way, how did you know he had three Reverse Sword killing techniques?"
Duan Rong smiled knowingly and said, "Didn’t I tell you before? I’m Bai Xiaosheng, learned in all the martial arts under the heavens!"