Compared to the absurdly overpowered other matches, this one—whose combat strength and Mental Power were roughly on par with the original host’s ex-husbands—was perhaps the most likely to be a successful match.
Sui Ning grew a little interested, so she opened the door and let Zhang Yunwei pull her outside, with Bo Yuqiao hopping along behind them.
Besides them, plenty of Females were also heading over to the guard team next door with their Beast Husbands to watch the excitement.
“Every year when our Temple Academy starts its term, the newly enrolled Females go through a month of military training!” Zhang Yunwei couldn’t decide whether she loved or hated the topic. “The instructors are selected from this guard team, so around this time every year, the guard team holds a challenge tournament. Those who place well not only get promoted, but also qualify to become instructors at our Temple Academy. If they’re lucky enough to catch a Female’s eye, they get taken directly as a Beast Husband.
Ning Bao’er, since you don’t have a Beast Husband yet anyway, why not pick one for yourself?
The S-ranks are out of our league, but the A-ranks are pretty great too…”
Bo Yuqiao, cheeks flushed pink, added quietly, “To get an S-rank Beast Husband someday, I have to study hard and boost my Mental Power, and try to reach A-rank soon—even B-rank would do!”
Sui Ning, whose Beast Husbands started at S-rank, nodded along. She’d have to grind hard too, so that next time the Optical Brain matched her, she could earn an S-rank Beast Husband through her own merit.
The competition venue was huge, and the surrounding stands were packed with Beastmen. Zhang Yunwei and Bo Yuqiao registered their and their Beast Husbands’ information at the entrance before going in.
Sui Ning followed their example, holding her Optical Brain up to the device. “Ding~ It has been detected that the esteemed Female Sui Ning has a Beast Husband participating in the guard team challenge tournament. A VIP viewing channel has been opened for you. Please proceed to your seats with your Beast Husbands.”
As soon as the announcement rang out, a robot immediately came forward to lead her to the front stands.
Zhang Yunwei and Bo Yuqiao couldn’t help a low “whoa,” and pointed enviously at their wrists: “Let’s exchange Optical Brain contacts!”
Sui Ning smiled and nodded, then followed the robot aboard the designated Star Car inside the venue, arriving at an open-air stand in the best location—only about ten-odd square meters, with two rows of sofas, drinks and snacks on the table, and several holographic glasses for easy viewing.
By now, the match in the arena was nearing its end. The black king cobra had several bleeding holes punched through his body, yet he still wrapped his tail tightly around his opponent and clamped his fangs onto the other’s neck. Only when he heard “Mo Che wins” did he let go, shift into human form, leap off the stage, take the medal from the referee, and—without even pausing to treat his wounds—dash straight toward the audience stands…
Amid the crowd’s cheering, Sui Ning was getting nervous, wondering how she should greet him—only to see Mo Che leap several times up into the stands diagonally above her?!
Her Optical Brain vibrated—Zhang Yunwei’s avatar was flashing frantically: “Ning Bao’er, quick, look at the forum! Someone’s livestreaming Mo Che courting! Ahhhh, so romantic, I’m so jealous!” A link followed right behind.
Every bit of gossip stung her heart. Sui Ning kept a straight face, pressed her lips together, and opened it.
In the video, Mo Che knelt on one knee, holding the medal up with both hands to a stunningly beautiful Female, asking with full hope: “Female Ruotang, I’ve become a guard team squad leader, and I’ll work even harder from now on. Might I have the honor of becoming your follower?”
Below, netizens’ comments were scrolling frantically: Say yes, say yes~
Not only that, the entire venue was filled with everyone’s frantic shipping of the couple.
Even the two Females flanking Sui Ning ran to the railing, craning their necks to look up and crying out excitedly:
“That albino little peacock is so lucky, to take in a Beast Husband with such aptitude. Mo Che should be able to advance to at least SS in the future, right?”
“She’s just relying on her good looks. I wonder, if I went out there now, could I steal Mo Che away…”
A warrior with S-rank Mental Power at twenty-two and a Combat Power Value of 8—aptitude like that ranked among the very best in the Central Star.
Over here it was just idle talk, but beside them, a Female with S-rank Mental Power was already taking action!
Yet Mo Che didn’t spare anyone a glance, still gazing fixedly at the little Female before him.
The Female nodded, face full of shyness. “We’ll see how you behave from now on!”
Sui Ning felt a pang of sourness and faint disappointment, sighing silently. System Matching really wasn’t reliable! An arranged marriage without even meeting first truly wouldn’t do.
She quietly raised her hand, pulled up the marriage section on her Optical Brain, and was just about to tap “unbind” next to Mo Che’s name when a slender, fair hand grabbed hers?!
Sui Ning’s whole body tensed, and she looked warily at the Male who had appeared out of nowhere behind her.
“Hi there, Wife-Lord. I’m Jun Lin. Sorry—just now I was busy with the challenge matches and didn’t see the marriage notification in time.” The Male was tall and slender, with short reddish-brown hair, long narrow amber fox-like eyes, and features so handsome they seemed unreal—every line as if drawn by the Creator’s most careful stroke.
He wore a black military uniform with the top two buttons undone, one arm resting on the railing, his eyes fixed on Sui Ning, his smile carrying a careless languor and roguish charm.
Seeing the admiration in her eyes, Jun Lin raised an eyebrow, smiled, and leaned in close. “Is the Wife-Lord satisfied with your Beast Husband’s appearance?”
Sui Ning took a step back and nodded honestly, then asked listlessly, “So… are you also here to unbind from me?”
Jun Lin was taken aback, then laughed low. “It seems the Wife-Lord doubts my determination to follow you. Then I’ll have to prove it!”
With that, he stepped forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and with two leaps landed steadily right in front of Mo Che and Ruotang, who were embracing!
Everyone’s gaze shifted from Mo Che and Ruotang to the two apparent spotlight-crashing third wheels.
Sui Ning pried at his hand, but it seemed welded to her waist, his palm so hot it made her face flush red. “Jun Lin, we can talk in private. What did you bring me here for?”
She had never been this close to a man before…
Jun Lin loosened his grip slightly, his fingers unable to resist pinching the soft flesh at her waist—so slender and soft. An image floated up in his mind from his subordinates’ idle chatter: a Female’s waist, a deadly knife!
He clicked his tongue against his cheek. “Naturally, I’m here to stand up for my Wife-Lord.”
Mo Che released Ruotang. Seeing who had arrived, his golden eyes narrowed slightly. He swept his gaze over Sui Ning and Jun Lin, suppressed his surprise, and stepped forward with a smile, one hand on his shoulder. “Greetings, Squadron Leader Jun Lin. What are your orders?”
Jun Lin curled his lips and said flatly, “Let’s not talk business. I’m just asking on my Wife-Lord’s behalf—since you’re so eager to court that white-haired bird Female, do you have time to first discuss divorce compensation?”
That one sentence blew up the entire venue, along with the Temple Academy forum.
“Mo Che is married?”
“He actually dared to betray his Wife-Lord…”
“I knew that albino peacock was no good—seducing a male who even has a Wife-Lord…”
Not to mention the onlookers; even the parties involved, Mo Che and Ruotang, were dumbfounded.
“Squad Leader Jun, I don’t understand what you mean. I’m still single,” Mo Che said through gritted teeth, enunciating every word.