Four Enter, One Falls
Chapter 13: Four Enter, One Falls
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"When you're the villain, every win costs something. Even if you don't feel it yet."
—Qin Feng
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Heaven's Crown Palace — Morning
Qin Feng stood before the four High Elders, hands behind his back, face calm.
They had made their offer clear last night:
"Become a Crown Candidate. Claim the path to Ascension. Compete not just for power, but for legacy."
He'd slept on it. Briefly.
Now he stood in front of them, while the girls watched from a distance, hearts pounding.
The Sect Master leaned forward.
"Well?"
Qin Feng smiled.
"I'll do it."
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[System Alert: Crown Candidate Path Accepted]
[Perks Unlocked:]
Exclusive access to forbidden techniques vault
Automatic qualification for final round
Marked by the Heavens – you are now visible to divine entities
---
Yun'er bowed her head slightly. "He just became a god's problem."
Ziyue grinned. "He always was."
Su Mei muttered, "Now they'll all come for him."
Mei Xue's voice was flat: "Let them."
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1. Girl vs Girl
Back at the inn, sparks flew fast.
Lian Ruo lounged in Qin Feng's chair, still in silk.
Mei Xue entered silently, frost clinging to her sleeves.
They locked eyes.
"You smell like desperation," Mei Xue said.
"And you smell like someone who'll be watching from the sidelines."
"I don't need to flaunt skin to hold his heart."
Lian Ruo stood, slow and dangerous. "Then you won't mind if I take more of him."
Ziyue cracked her neck. "You two want to settle this, do it now. Not when he's watching."
Su Mei nodded. "I'll hold the crowd."
Yun'er didn't speak — she just backed up.
And then it happened.
The first true clash.
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Frost vs Flame.
Sword vs whip.
Control vs chaos.
Lian Ruo danced between ice shards, her devil whip striking with the heat of a volcano.
Mei Xue stood rooted, calmly forming shields and spears of enchanted frost.
Each girl was deadly. Beautiful. And refusing to back down.
Until—
CRACK!
Lian Ruo's whip wrapped around Mei Xue's leg and slammed her into a wall.
But Mei Xue had already formed a blade behind her attacker's neck.
Both froze. Panting and Glaring.
Neither won.
But something was decided.
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[System Alert: Relationship Status – "Open War" between Mei Xue & Lian Ruo]
[Warning: Extended conflict may affect team synergy and plot direction]
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Qin Feng arrived late and saw the damage.
"…Should I leave again?"
Zihan ran up. "No! No more leaving! You almost missed it!"
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2. The Arena Shifts
An elder's voice echoed through the city:
"Next tournament round: Four-Way Elimination Match!"
Participants:
– Qin Feng
– Mei Xue
– Zihan
– Hei Zhu (Bone Ash Sect)
Qin Feng blinked.
"…They put Zihan in this?"
Yun'er stepped forward. "That's a trap."
Ziyue nodded. "They want to make you hesitate."
Su Mei's eyes narrowed. "If you don't fight her, you lose. If you do… you lose her."
Qin Feng clenched his fists.
Zihan stepped up, smiling softly.
"I'll be okay," she said.
He stared at her. "You shouldn't have to do this."
"I want to. I'm not just the healer. I want to stand beside you — even when it's hard."
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[Bond Alert: Zihan — Full Loyalty Confirmed]
[New Passive Unlocked: Inner Flame – Strength boosts when protecting Qin Feng]
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3. Battle Royale
The arena was reshaped into a floating island — four platforms circling a frozen lake.
The announcer's voice boomed:
"Only one will advance. All others… are out."
Qin Feng stood on Platform A.
Zihan on B.
Mei Xue on C.
Hei Zhu — a skeletal cultivator with gray flames — stood on D.
The battle began.
Hei Zhu immediately targeted Zihan.
"Easy prey."
Lightning erupted from Qin Feng's feet as he jumped in between.
CLASH!
"You want to touch her?" he growled. "Try touching the sky first."
He launched Hei Zhu backward with a thunder kick.
But that left Mei Xue free.
She hesitated — then moved. Not at Zihan. But toward Qin Feng.
"I can't hold back," she said.
He nodded. "Then don't."
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They clashed midair — blade vs blade, frost vs storm.
It was beautiful. Deadly. A true warrior's duel.
But the moment Qin Feng saw Zihan cornered again, he moved to intercept.
And that was the problem.
He kept protecting her.
Until—
Hei Zhu broke through and struck Zihan with a bone shard to the chest.
She gasped. Fell.
The crowd screamed.
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Qin Feng snapped.
His aura exploded.
Lightning cracked the arena.
Hei Zhu didn't even see the blade that split his body in two.
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[Hei Zhu Eliminated]
[Zihan Injured – Unable to continue]
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He rushed to her side, blood dripping from her mouth.
"I'm… sorry," she whispered.
He held her tight. "You did amazing."
"I… still won't let go."
Then she passed out.
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[System Update: Zihan – Bond Reaches Core Stage | Skill Fusion Unlocked (Healer's Rage)]
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Mei Xue landed beside him.
"You protected her. You still win."
He looked up. "You could've taken me down."
"I could have," she said. "But I wanted to fight the real you."
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[Mei Xue Affection: +20 | Emotional Trust Strengthened]
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4. End of Round
Back in the stands, Su Mei sat beside Yun'er.
"She's brave," Su Mei said.
"She's his heart," Yun'er replied.
Ziyue watched from a distance, hand tight on her sword.
"He'll never choose one of us."
Yun'er didn't respond.
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Qin Feng carried Zihan from the arena himself.
The crowd didn't cheer.
They bowed.
Because even in victory, he looked like he'd bled.
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"To protect one… I had to risk it all.
And I'll keep doing it — even when it hurts."
—Qin Feng
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TO BE CONTINUED…
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Up next in Chapter 14:
Qin Feng recovers and finally gets private time with Yun'er
The Ice Sect makes an official marriage proposal to claim Mei Xue
A strange message from the gods reaches Qin Feng
And Ziyue makes her boldest move yet — in public.