Be Gentle, My Master

Mu Ziying knew that Baili Xia’s most formidable weapon was that chain, so she pointed it out specifically.

Baili Xia was stunned, only at this moment did she realize that the second round of the competition hosted by the Eight Big Families purely involved hand-to-hand combat skills.

If she couldn’t use the chain, where would she find the confidence to compete against the others?

Suddenly, as if understanding something, she recalled why Wu Ming had taught her hand-to-hand combat the previous night.

It seemed he had also come to give her special training for the competition of the Eight Big Families.

To him, it appeared that the competition was very important.

Could it be that one of the Mu family members had instructed him?

But who exactly?

Baili Xia glanced at Mu Xiaojiu, then at Mu Xiaoyao and Mu Lingchuan.

None of these three seemed likely.

Could it be someone under their command?

Or was it simply that Wu Ming, being the good person he was, took the initiative to care about her?

But why?

She hadn’t done any notable good deeds for anyone at home…

Baili Xia composed herself and decided not to think about it for now.

“So, what are the rules of the competition?”

“It’s the same as in archery, with men and women competing separately, but through drawing lots.”

Mu Ziying began explaining to her.

“Each junior member of a family draws lots individually, pairing up to compete, ensuring to avoid members of their own family when drawing.”

“The winner of each match proceeds to the next round, and then they draw lots again to compete, until the final round is over.

Finally, points are tallied for each family based on their ranking.”

Seeing Baili Xia so engrossed, Mu Ziying asked, “Xiaxia, have you practiced your hand-to-hand combat skills?”

Baili Xia nodded.

“I have, but I’ve just begun.”

“Let me teach you more from now on,” Mu Xiaoyao said suddenly.

Baili Xia nodded at him.

“Thank you, Brother.”

“Big Brother, look how nice Brother is to Xiaxia. Why can’t you be like that to me?” Mu Ziying immediately complained to Mu Lingchuan.

Mu Lingchuan glanced at her helplessly and replied, “Alright, alright. We’ll notify Ziqing later and give the three of you training together, so you can’t accuse us of favoritism.”

Mu Ziying, satisfied with this response, bowed her head and continued eating her meal.

After the meal, Mu Xiaoyao took Baili Xia and Mu Ziying in the car toward the school.

Today was another good day, busy yet fulfilling…

…

After several quiet days, today they finally faced the first basketball game of Baili Xia’s class.

Over these past days, Baili Xia often felt strangely unwell, not entirely comfortable.

She seemed to lack strength, and her limbs would even occasionally feel weak and tremble.

Like when she went to the back mountain each night to train with Wu Ming, whereas she could initially handle almost three hours of practice each day, it had reduced to two hours, and then to one hour, before she became too exhausted to continue.

Luckily, Wu Ming had seemed in a good mood lately, and seeing her become increasingly “delicate,” he hadn’t reprimanded her much.

Just last night, after half an hour of practice, she was already gasping for breath and too weary to continue.

When sleeping at night, she often felt as if someone was beside her but wasn’t sure.

She wondered if it was Uncle trying to sneak an attack, but if it were Uncle, would he be so well-behaved, sleeping next to her without making any moves?

It was likely just her own nocturnal dreams and wild thoughts.

She walked into the academic building, heading for her classroom.

Unexpectedly, just as she walked along the corridor and had taken only a few steps, suddenly, a wave of nausea surged through her stomach, and she felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.