Chapter 112: Champions and Crossroads

After the competition, the staff presented the award to Heqing. There was no gold medal, but there was a prize of ten thousand yuan.

When Heqing received the thick stack of cash, she exclaimed in surprise, “Wait, wasn’t it supposed to be two thousand? How did it turn into this much?”

The staff replied, “They changed the amount a few days ago. Boss Jiang bumped the event prize up to ten thousand yuan. How did you win as champion and not even notice?”

“Huh?” Heqing really had no idea; she’d been so focused on winning the match that she hadn’t checked the prize updates.

The staff chuckled, “Well, anyway, congratulations on taking the championship.”

“Thanks a lot.”

Heqing waved to the cheering crowd from the stage, holding the money and smiling at everyone.

Lin Zheng Ran’s phone dinged with a notification.

It showed he’d won second prize in last week’s Coke draw—twenty thousand yuan.

The system’s double rebate always found ways to give him all sorts of excuses for luck.

On stage, Heqing waved at Lin Zheng Ran, and he smiled back at the young girl.

[Over the past few days, you and Fairy He returned to her sect for the annual sect competition. With the cultivation mantras and immortal techniques you’ve taught her, Fairy He’s strength has grown immensely. Though she faced a tough opponent, she easily overcame them with her power and claimed victory in the sect martial event.]

[After winning, Fairy He told the sect elders she wanted to join you for some time training in the mortal world.]

[The sect elders discussed it and decided her skills far exceed those of the other disciples, so they agreed to let her go with you to gain more experience.]

[With Fairy He’s win, she wants to repay you, and for you, this is another opportunity.]

Once the competition ended, the coach and the students celebrated but also realized Heqing wasn’t just a small fish in a pond—she wouldn’t stick around this small town practicing these casual fights forever.

She was destined for bigger stages.

The coach handed over a business card, doing what he could:

“Heqing, Lin Zheng Ran, this is a friend of mine from the city. He runs a better taekwondo dojo than mine. If you’re interested, check it out. It’s not the biggest, but the people there are solid.”

Whether it would help or not, Lin Zheng Ran took the card. Though they’d only known each other a few years, they were still friends.

“Thanks, Coach.”

In the distance, Lin Xue watched this scene after her loss and suddenly realized that when she’d won before, she never really paid attention to everyone’s happiness.

After the match, Heqing looked at all that prize money and said she’d use two thousand yuan to treat everyone to a meal. The once carefree girl was learning the ways of the world, especially since who knew if she’d see these people again.

Before leaving, Heqing went to the changing room to change and unexpectedly saw Lin Xue alone in the corner, changing clothes.

Her expression had shifted from serious to downcast as she packed away her taekwondo uniform.

Heqing thought for a moment, then approached and said, “Lin Xue Jie?”

Hearing her voice, Lin Xue saw it was Heqing and felt a mix of embarrassment and guilt.

It wasn’t just about losing; Heqing was two years younger and looked so soft and sisterly.

Now that the match was over, Lin Xue had calmed down and regretted her fierce behavior on stage.

Even if she’d won, she wasn’t sure it would have made her happy.

Heqing stared at Lin Xue for a moment, then grinned, “Sis, your taekwondo skills are amazing. Yesterday, before it started, I was actually scared I couldn’t beat you.”

Lin Xue slowed down as she packed her clothes and smiled at her.

Heqing scratched her head awkwardly, “I mean, I won, but it felt like luck was involved. You didn’t seem yourself today.”

Lin Xue was touched by the girl’s innocence and felt even more guilty, “No luck about it. That’s just my level, maybe even above it. So, losing to you was fair—I wasn’t good enough.”

Heqing waved her hands, “No! I could tell you wanted to win so badly that you rushed. If you’d stayed calm, you’d have been way stronger!”

Lin Xue paused, then smiled, “You’re really kind. I’m sorry for that look I gave you on stage—don’t be mad, sis apologizes.”

Heqing blinked and grinned wide:

“I got a bit intense back there too, emmm, not sure how to put it, but sis, your talent is real! I think you’ll get even better. Sure, winning matters, but we do taekwondo because it’s fun and cool, right? If we just fight wildly, what’s the point?”

“Anyway, I look forward to facing you again! Next time, let’s both go all out and see who’s stronger, not end it like today.”

A spark lit in Lin Xue’s eyes as Heqing heard Lin Zheng Ran call from outside.

She responded and waved to Lin Xue, “Sis, my boyfriend’s calling me. I have to go! Bye!”

Lin Xue waved back at Heqing.

“Bye.” She called out suddenly, “Little sis, see you again!”

Heqing paused, turned back with a smile, and kept waving, “Yeah! We will!”

Once the young girl was gone, Lin Xue sighed in relief.

She stood there for a bit, then pulled out her phone to look at the withdrawal message she’d planned for the coach, and slowly deleted it.

She remembered starting taekwondo out of love, but somewhere along the way, she’d focused only on winning and lost that passion.

“I guess I lost the match and my heart to that little sis.”

Lin Xue put her phone away and stretched hard.

She changed clothes, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed back to her taekwondo team.

Her teammates, including the coach, watched as Lin Xue emerged.

Everyone knew her proud and aloof nature, so after her loss, no one was sure how she’d react.

Some even worried about the worst.

So, someone quickly stepped up to comfort her.

But Lin Xue just looked at their concerned faces, pulled out the second-place prize of three thousand yuan from her bag, and grinned, “I lost today, but I got second place. Let me treat everyone to a meal.” She paused, seeing their confused looks, and thought of the young girl, “What? I’m fine. It was just one loss. Next time, I won’t lose.”

The others glanced at each other and laughed, “That’s right! Next time, Lin Xue Jie will win for sure!”

“Exactly, she’s always led us to victory before.”

The coach relaxed and joined in, “That girl was just too strong. It’s not your fault; she’s on another level. Keep training hard.”

Lin Xue smiled and sighed, thinking of Heqing, “Yeah, let’s all work to surpass her together.”

Though Lin Xue was proud, when that girl yesterday reminded Heqing about her, calling her Lin Xue Jie and hoping she’d win, Heqing knew this sis must treat everyone in their dojo well.

Otherwise, no one would root for her like that.

In the afternoon, Heqing and Lin Zheng Ran had a simple dinner with everyone before heading back to school by car.