Chapter Ch137.3 - Respect

translator: xiin

editors: apricot & juurensha

There seemed to be a translucent figure by the knight’s sword that was still wrapped up in chains. It couldn’t be seen clearly in the dark, but Wu Jin had no time to concern himself over it. He stepped off the horse and approached the coded lock, inputting in the name of the lady’s lover, Anna…

The chain clicked open!

Wu Jin unhesitatingly reached out to grasp the handle of the sword. Light flowed down the sword, and there was even a tiny electric sheen along the blade. Wu Jin was almost certain that the program team had added power to the knight’s sword!

Just before Wu Jin mounted the horse to slaughter his way back, he suddenly saw another pair of translucent hands holding onto the sword handle along with him.

Wu Jin stopped and looked up at the ghost knight.

Contrary to Wu Jin’s imagination, Julie was gentle and beautiful. She wore a snow-covered cloak and lace cap, and there was a rare inherent beauty that showed when she smiled. It was difficult to imagine that this was a swordswoman who had fought all over France.

Julie spoke quietly, “Take it and fight for your lover.”

Wu Jin flushed and explained quickly that he was going to save Vera, “Not-not a lover…”

Julie smiled, “Perhaps one day, you will fight for your lover’s sake.”

“May you be like me. Be brave, be devout, and never regret.”

“Go.”

The ghost dissipated slowly.

Wu Jin was stunned for a few seconds, then he mounted the mare and ran off to the Palace of Versailles once again.

The fire was nearly extinguished.

18 survivors.

In the wing tower, in Queen Marie’s inner room.

Just as Caesar hesitated over how to eliminate Vera, the horse neighed from outside the window.

Beneath the high tower, Wu Jin stood there alone with a sword in hand.

Lan, who was guarding the door, narrowed her eyes, “You’re alone?”

Wu Jin nodded.

Lan looked at him for a long time, then smiled suddenly, “A gentleman’s duel?”

Wu Jin thought for a moment, “Anything is fine, but don’t touch Vera.”

Lan rapped on the window. “Interesting.” She turned back, “There’s an A-level trainee here to gift points. Who wants it?”

Zoe’s face was expressionless, “What about Contestant Wei? Did he go off on his own when the decisive battle arrived?”

Wen Lin was helpless, “You… You’re unhappy when Contestant Wei follows beside Little Witch, but if he’s not following, you’re also unhappy…”

The young woman with long pink hair immediately raised her hand, “Me, me, me!”

Lan: “Okay!”

Two minutes later, Wu Jin walked up to the tower, and his sword came out of the scabbard.

The knight’s sword and the bayonet clashed, and the bayonet quivered before breaking into two. The little sister froze and then suddenly stabbed at Wu Jin’s carotid artery––

The youth dodged, his lean body leaning back, his blade sharp and bright. After two rounds of confrontation, a life-saving capsule popped out.

17 survivors.

Wu Jin gasped for breath lightly, supporting himself up with one knee, his movements smooth. His gaze was steady and full of fighting spirit, “Next. Who’s up.”

Lan’s expression stilled slightly, and she chuckled after a moment, “Me.”

The dagger swept out of her scabbard like a ghost. Wu Jin could see the bright red blood groove. He lowered himself to avoid a stab, his blade slashing straight down like the tens of thousands of sword swings he’d practiced in Floating City’s training room. Lan’s dagger moved in strangely dexterous ways, while Wu Jin moved calmly and defensively. Over a short period of ten exchanges, the two moved faster and faster, until Wu Jin dodged with a flash&#k2013;&#k2013;

Lan was unable to collect herself and rushed out the window, suddenly pulling on Wu Jin’s wrist as she fell.

Both of them fell from the second floor at the same time!

There was a crash, followed by the sound of countless ice floes breaking apart. Zoe’s eyebrows jumped and only remembered a while later that Wu Jin was his opponent in this round, “What’s beneath us?”

“River. It’s frozen, but it’s not very solid.” Wen Lin teased him, “Does your heart ache?”

Zoe snorted coldly.

Beneath the window.

Wu Jin got up one step ahead of Lan. Nearby, all the pieces of ice were cracked, like ice crystals that had gathered into demonic blossoms beneath their feet. Wu Jin used his sword that was wrapped up in cold wind and moisture and cut at Lan with thunderous momentum. The young woman suddenly tumbled, standing up on one foot to trip Wu Jin from behind his calf.

The first hole appeared in the ice!

Wu Jin slid back, the ice beneath his feet pushing him far, far away. However, Lan continued to charge––and the ice began to collapse from the hole outwards. Wu Jin cut off Lan’s retreat with his sword, and the young woman attacked him with her dagger. She slid to the side, and her other hand suddenly struck out––

Wu Jin sucked in a breath of cold air.

A shard of broken ice was sandwiched between two of Lan’s fingers, slicing out a long bloody wound from his cheek down to his arm. Wu Jin’s pupils contracted and their battle intent soared.

Zoe, Wen Lin, and Caesar all hissed at the same time. Caesar went straight for the window, “That’s too nasty! Holy shit––”

Wen Lin used all of his strength to pull the 300 pound Caesar down from the window. “Don’t go down. This is a competition.”

Not far away, on the roof of the Palace of Versailles.

Wei Shi’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The metal clashed against ice, and Wu Jin and Lan began to sink at the same time. Wu Jin was first to remove his waterlogged jacket, ignoring how half his body was immersed in the cold river water. Lan’s hair was damp, and the sword wound on her back seeped blood, but her eyes were cruel. She stuck close to Wu Jin’s body and suddenly immersed herself in the water––

Wu Jin submerged himself at the same time!

Broken ice shards floated around them, and a trail of blood floated up along the river. Wen Lin’s eyelids twitched.

These two were fighting too hard.

Regardless of style, they were competitors who were the most worthy of respect.

The wrist watch’s survival number jumped.

16 people.

At the bottom of the river, the life-saving capsule finally popped out, slowly making its way to the surface. Countless eyes locked on the river at the same time––

Someone finally climbed out of the water.

Wu Jin.

He held a dagger in his hand which he stuck into a crack in the stone on the river bank as he climbed back out of the water. A long time later, he was able to wipe the water off his face at random.

The youth’s originally deep wound had been washed out with ice water and was bleeding sluggishly. Julie’s sword was still in his hand, and he used it to support himself and attempt to stand up.

Wen Lin finally spoke, “Bring Vera out.”

Off in the distance, Ning Fengbei couldn’t bear to watch it, “Lan is a madwoman, and Little Witch followed suit to fight her? He’s still not opening up his life-saving capsule?”

Thin Fire led Ning Fengbei to dodge Jingyi Double C’s frenzied sniping, “Darling, how about we escape first? Little Witch’s foundation is bad. If he’s not aggressive, he would’ve been eliminated in the first round. He’s even crazier than Lan is to stay in the game until now.”

“This is the fifth round. Little Witch has many fans and haters. This is the fight that will make him famous… ah, holy shit, how come Wei Yan is attacking us?”

On the top floor, Wei Shi casually took a shot.

15 survivors.

Wu Jin tried several times before he was barely able to stand up. His back was straight, and he faced the building, speaking in a low voice, “Next.”

Zoe stared at him for a few seconds, then finally took a deep breath and went downstairs, “I’ll do it.”

Countless cameras were swirling around.

Zoe stretched out a hand to Caesar to borrow a knight’s sword.

Caesar was indignant, “Little Witch is already so miserable, Zoe, yet we’re still bullying him like this…”

Wen Lin sighed, “It’s not bullying.”

Beneath the window, Wu Jin hefted up the sword again. At this time, the heating equipment had already run out completely. The youth’s arm trembled slightly, but his sword was very stable. He had undoubtedly already used up all the strength in his body.

Zoe: “Come.”

Wu Jin nodded and sliced horizontally––

Anyone could see that Wu Jin was close to the end of his rope, and the attack was a bluff. At this time, not only Zoe, but any of the F-level trainees who’d already been eliminated could easily topple him to the ground.

On the roof, Wei Shi’s knuckles were white in a rare show of emotion. He stared straight at Wu Jin, but didn’t move at all.

Acknowledging his decisions and respecting them.

Zoe’s sword swept across, clean and thorough.

In the place where Wu Jin stood, a life-saving capsule popped up as expected.

14 survivors.

Wu Jin had been eliminated.

Julie’s sword fell, and the mare that had been tied not far off ran around restlessly.

Upstairs, Wen Lin untied the coerced Vera, “Congratulations, you’re free.”

From the roof of the building, a dark shadow suddenly fell.

Wei Yan paused, then retreated extremely quickly. The two trainees who weren’t able to dodge turned into life-saving capsules. After that, Caesar was eliminated, followed by Ming Yao and Wen Lin. Wei Shi moved like a silent blade amidst the crowd––

He finally encountered Wei Yan.

Survivors, 3.

Survivors, 2.

Chu Chu shivered and trembled, “God, God Wei… did I lie down and win just like that?! …”

Fireworks burst from the wrist watch on their right arms.

The fifth elimination match was over.

Crosson Show first place: Contestant Wei Shi, #299976.

Hyacinth Show first place: Contestant Chu Chu, #FX63522.

The cameras at the scene gathered around the two of them at the same time, and helicopters circled down, robots jumping out from every corner of the field to recover the life-saving capsules…

The fireplace crackled.

Wu Jin turned over, and woke up in a daze.

Then, he looked around blankly.

There were trainees sleeping all over the floor. Caesar and Red were competing with each other to see who snored more loudly, while he was lying on two small cushions and covered with a cartoon patterned quilt. He didn’t know who it was who’d stuffed him neatly inside and rolled him up.

There was a faint light from the side.

Wu Jin turned around, then leaned in delightedly.

The big boss was leaning against the wall, wearing a pair of frameless glasses and reading a paper book.

A warm Wu Jin landed inside Wei Shi’s half-open quilt with a plop.

The man turned to the cover.

<A Tale of Two Cities>

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

Wu Jin squeezed inside the quilt. The big boss read one page, and he followed and read one page.

“A shadow of fear and hate lay over France, and no one knew what dangers the next day would bring…”

If the fifth round of the elimination match showed Voltaire’s view of France, then Dickens’ view of France was very different from his.

The big boss pressed him back into the quilt, “Go back to sleep.”

Wu Jin stared at the big boss’s frameless glasses and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Wei Shi turned off the light, pressed him into the pillow, and bent down.

Dry kisses fell onto the corner of his eye, the healed wound at the side of his neck.

Wu Jin pecked at the side of the big boss’s face.

Wei Shi sealed the youth’s lips.

Juurensha: Well, that was an exciting final match! But also….author, that’s a line from much later in Tale of Two Cities, that’s not the next page….

apricot: juu, the middle pages must have burned up in the fire haha~

xiin: never ever ever ever again. no more history for xiin please @[email protected] *topples over*

also, tons of fanart from the past few weeks? (months?) by readers on our discord server:

fanart by haruruu

fanart by gorfuin (@onion.emi)

fanart by leloar (@jvlart_public)

fanart by Viouse

fanart by Elwenz

fanart by Poppy_Flower