Another whip kick landed hard on Chen Xiaocao's outside thigh.

Chen Xiaocao gasped in pain, her body swaying as she nearly fell again. Her face was deathly pale, her forehead was covered in cold sweat, and the back of her training uniform was soaked through.

"Why aren't you dodging anymore?" Bai Wei's voice, like poisoned ice, rang in her ear. "Where are all those fancy moves your sister Su An taught you? Show me how to use them!"

Chen Xiaocao bit her lip, already tasting a hint of blood in her mouth.

Her whole body ached, as if it had been taken apart and haphazardly put back together. Every breath she took aggravated the injuries in her waist and abdomen, sending waves of excruciating pain through her.

She wanted to just lie on the ground like that, and just pass out like that.

But she couldn't.

She looked up and, through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, saw the figure standing straight in the audience.

Sister Su An...

Sister Su An is still watching me.

I can't let her down.

I can't let Bai Wei get cocky.

An unknown force was supporting her.

"I...I haven't...lost yet..."

She squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, yet carrying a touching stubbornness.

Then, to everyone's disbelief, Chen Xiaocao struggled on the ground for a while before using her trembling arms to support herself and try to stand up again, little by little.

Although her body was still trembling and she couldn't straighten her back, she stood up.

"Whoosh—"

A suppressed gasp rose from the audience.

Everyone was amazed by the willpower of this frail girl.

Jiang Yan frowned deeply as he looked at Chen Xiaocao, a hint of seriousness appearing in his eyes for the first time. He had initially thought she was just an insignificant little girl, but he hadn't expected her to possess such resilience.

Bai Wei's smile froze for a moment.

She never expected that Chen Xiaocao could still stand up after all that.

This made her feel inexplicably irritated and humiliated.

Even an ant dares to rebel?

"Very well." Bai Wei's voice was as cold as ice. "Since you're so eager to play, then I'll play along to the very end!"

Chen Xiaocao didn't speak, but just looked at Bai Wei with her stubborn, red eyes.

She remembered what Sister Su An had said to her in that unnoticed corner before she went on stage.

"Little grass, listen to me."

Su Tang's voice was low and calm.

"Bai Wei's strength is above yours, that's a fact. You have no chance of winning in a head-on confrontation."

Chen Xiaocao lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes: "Sister Su An, I... I don't want to embarrass you."

“You won’t embarrass me.” Su Tang interrupted her, reaching out to lift her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. “Now, forget all the complicated moves, forget winning and losing, and just remember one sentence from me.”

"Bai Wei is extremely arrogant and desperately wants to wash away her previous shame with a resounding victory. Therefore, she won't go all out at first; she will humiliate you, torture you, and enjoy the process."

Every word Su Tang uttered was etched clearly into Chen Xiaocao's mind, like a carving knife.

"This is your only chance."

"She will use her signature series of side kicks to attack your lower body and throw you off balance. Her attack rhythm is left, right, then a half-second pause, followed by a more powerful right high kick, targeting your shoulder or head."

"Remember this rhythm. Left, right, pause."

"In the instant she pauses, in order to deliver a right high kick, her left supporting leg will stiffen for a very short time, and her entire center of gravity will be on her left leg."

Su Tang extended a finger and gently touched Chen Xiaocao's forehead.

"At that moment, don't dodge, don't retreat. Move forward, use all your strength, and strike the inside of her supporting leg's knee. You don't need to knock her down, you just need to disrupt her balance."

"And then?" Chen Xiaocao asked nervously.

"That's all." Su Tang withdrew her hand. "You only have this one chance, and you only need to do this one thing. Leave the rest to your instincts."

...