Gu Ya's speed surpassed Wei Ping's normal perception.
He could be that fast!
Wei Ping immediately followed the textbook's instructions, executing a precise evasion maneuver.
According to the textbook, no one could outdo her.
She had trained a thousand times!
Not an inch, not a mile off!
Wei Ping considered this with confidence.
Her mecha immediately retracted into a defensive posture, temporarily shutting down its propulsion engines.
This action would turn the mecha into a giant iron ball. Once the opponent completed their charge, she could immediately deploy her limbs to firmly restrain them!
No one could dodge!
If the opponent stopped their charge, she could also immediately deploy her limbs and counter-attack.
"Wow, Wei Ping's movements are so textbook-perfect! It's like a replica from the manual!" exclaimed a student.
"Yes, Wei Ping has always diligently honed her skills. She's definitely the most dedicated one," another student said seriously.
"Ah, smart and hardworking, that's just unfairly strong."
Gu Ya was well aware of her tactic. It was a shame, but that was Wei Ping's characteristic!
By the book, completely by the rules, without any surprises or original thoughts!
An ordinary mecha pilot would need to consider the corresponding counter-methods from the textbook.
But Gu Ya smiled gently. In his eyes, this move prioritized frontal defense, and the rear thrusters were a huge, conspicuous target for attack!
The textbook wasn't always infallible!
Gu Ya's fingers moved nimbly, the control stick shifting with ease.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Gu Ya's mecha moved so fast it created afterimages, eerily drifting to Wei Ping's rear.
"What? Impossible! How did he do that?"
"What move did Gu Ya use? We didn't learn that in the book!"
"What happened? I don't even understand!"
The students could hardly believe their eyes. They gaped, sweat trickling down their faces. If this were a real battle, Wei Ping would be in trouble!
But as Gu Ya circled behind Wei Ping, he didn't launch any attack. He simply chopped at her thrusters with a hand-blade, then stopped.
Gu Ya was practically humiliating Wei Ping!
The most astonished was Wei Ping herself. She believed she had executed her move perfectly, so why could Gu Ya break it so easily? This was a standard textbook move!
"Why didn't you follow the textbook?" Wei Ping asked, stunned.
Gu Ya chuckled lightly. "The textbook? Well... it's too simple."
Without a doubt, Wei Ping lost to Gu Ya once again.
Gu Ya said, "You are very hardworking. I can't reach your level, but I have my own methods."
"Gu Ya!" Wei Ping shouted angrily, "I work so hard! How can I lose to someone like you who only resorts to trickery!"
Saying this, Wei Ping controlled her mecha, charged forward a distance, then immediately adjusted her posture to face Gu Ya head-on.
"Oh? She's getting impatient? Excellent," Gu Ya's smile widened.
When people are anxious, they reveal more of their characteristics.
Suddenly, Wei Ping burst forward, tucking her hands beneath her.
The students on the ground saw clearly that Wei Ping's mecha had drawn its beam swords from beneath its arms.
But in Gu Ya's vision, they were completely invisible.
"What is that move? It's not in the textbook! How did Wei Ping learn it?"
"That's Wei Ping's self-created signature move, her ultimate technique. She wants to defeat Gu Ya with this!"
"This is getting more exciting."
The moment Wei Ping closed in on Gu Ya, she thrust both swords forward, aiming for Gu Ya's face.
"Hmm? So that's how it is." Gu Ya rapidly retreated. Just as the twin swords were about to strike him, he slightly turned his head to dodge them.
Simultaneously, he flicked his head, deflecting the swords to the side.
Gu Ya stated calmly, "Then I won't hold back either!"
With that, Gu Ya repeated his maneuver. Dagger in hand, he controlled his mecha to sidestep her charge.
Suddenly, he began to circle Wei Ping's mecha.
The dagger, like peeling an apple, drew more and more scratches on Wei Ping's mecha.
Three seconds later, they separated, flying in opposite directions before coming to a halt.
Wei Ping's mecha was covered in spiral gashes from Gu Ya's dagger.
Gu Ya, on the other hand, was unharmed.
Gu Ya had won this match decisively.
But he wasn't happy. Wei Ping's attack had caught him off guard; he hadn't predicted she would use her ultimate move at the first opportunity.
This meant he had failed his self-imposed goal of dissecting the opponent's every characteristic from the outset.
"Hmm! I still need to work harder!" Gu Ya sighed.
Wei Ping, defeated and convinced, no longer pestered Gu Ya and flew towards the hangar alone.
Gu Ya felt a surge of dissatisfaction. Winning so lukewarmly didn't even feel like a warm-up.
What to do? He hadn't fought enough yet! Should he play the villain? Gu Ya thought reluctantly.
Playing the villain wasn't in line with Gu Ya's demeanor, but for the sake of training and gaining combat experience,
This was a pretty good method.
Gu Ya hovered in the air, activated his loudspeaker, and shouted, "Who else wants to spar? Everyone here, one by one. I want to fight every single person in the class!"
"Fight everyone in the class? Is Gu Ya crazy! Hahaha, this is interesting!" Lu Bo shouted.
Lu Yi was also spurred by Gu Ya's words and said, "That Gu Ya kid is too arrogant, he needs to be put in his place! I'll go first!"
Huang Bo agreed, "I'll be second. I want to beat Gu Ya into submission!"
Yang Xiaotian said, "I'll be third. A relay match, we must make Gu Ya admit defeat today!"
Gu Ya's words had only incited three people. Not enough, Gu Ya shook his head and thought, sighing, might as well go all the way with being the bad guy.
So he shouted, "I say, no one here today is capable of fighting!"
"Huh? What's wrong with Gu Ya? Did something provoke him? He's so arrogant today! Haha, I really want to punch him!" Chen Xingke said indignantly.
Mei Shanli's face turned red with anger, and she said resentfully, "I'm coming too! Gu Ya must know my strength today!"
Fan Mengtian smiled faintly and said, "Alright, since everyone is accepting the challenge, I won't be polite either!" As he spoke, Fan Mengtian started his mecha and moved forward.
Seeing that their class monitor had made a move, the others in Class A also joined the relay match.
Except for Xuan Lang and Jiang Tingyue, who stood at the back.
Xuan Lang said to Jiang Tingyue, "You go too. Remember what I told you, treat Wei Yongji well, string him along, keep him anxious."
Jiang Tingyue silently walked forward.
Xuan Lang, however, turned and walked towards the hangar.
In the hangar, Xuan Lang encountered Wei Ping. She was lowering her head, covering her face, seemingly stimulated and adjusting herself.
Xuan Lang sat beside her gently and said, "You've already worked very hard, there's no need to be sad over one loss."
Wei Ping sighed and said, "I must continue to work hard, to work harder."
Xuan Lang chuckled softly. "Effort is necessary, identify your weaknesses and compensate for them. But sometimes, you need to relax a bit."
Wei Ping nodded.
Xuan Lang looked Wei Ping up and down and said gently, "I heard your father's health has been consistently poor, and you've been looking for treatments."
"I've looked into your father's illness. With your family's background, money is not an issue, but it hasn't been cured. What a pity."
"Coincidentally, my family's research institute has recently been secretly developing a drug specifically for your father's condition. Its clinical performance has been good, and it's currently going through pricing and production processes."
Wei Ping quickly asked, "Really? How much is it? I'll buy it!"
Xuan Lang gently shook his head and retorted with a smile, "Do I lack money?"
Wei Ping felt she had been too rash. Xuan Lang, from the Xuan family, and from the upper city. His pocket money alone was enough to buy all the businesses of Wei Ping's family.
"Then how should I thank you?" Wei Ping asked excitedly.
Xuan Lang looked up, masking his emotions, and said lightly, "You haven't dated yet, have you?"
"What kind of boyfriend are you looking for?"
Wei Ping said shyly, "I haven't thought about these things yet. My father's illness is serious, and my studies are very busy."
Xuan Lang shook his head and said, "Don't I still have me?"
Xuan Lang turned his head and looked at Wei Ping seriously. "I'm serious. I like to be direct. Be my girlfriend. If you don't say anything, I'll take it as your tacit consent."
With that, Xuan Lang leaned closer.
Wei Ping's face flushed with shyness, and she didn't know what to say. She truly didn't want this to be real.
But,
He was Xuan Lang. From the first day he enrolled, he was the subject of discussion among all the girls.
Good looks, good personality, and most importantly, he was from the Xuan family.
He was the perfect ideal boyfriend for every girl from the lower city.
As Wei Ping flustered, Xuan Lang's face had already drawn near. Wei Ping could even see the fine hairs on his fair skin.
A kiss, lightly imprinted on Wei Ping's cheek.
Wei Ping stared wide-eyed, looking ahead in disbelief, as if everything that had just happened was a dream.
Xuan Lang had completely captivated Wei Ping with just a few sentences and a promise.
Xuan Lang showed no hesitation in his smile as he looked at Wei Ping and said, "From now on, just spend more time with me."
Huang Bo and Wang Can, who had been defeated by Gu Ya, returned to the hangar disheartened. They happened to witness Xuan Lang and Wei Ping's intimate behavior.
"No way? Am I seeing things right?" Huang Bo said in shock.
Wang Can also looked somewhat incredulous, but then he burst out laughing and said, "Heh, who told him he's Xuan Lang. Huang Bo, you don't have a chance anymore."
Xuan Lang waved at them generously while putting his arm around Wei Ping's shoulder.
And in Wei Ping's heart, it was like a huge stone falling into a lake, filled with excitement, unease, thrill, and disbelief.
She was convinced that she was the luckiest girl in the world.
The harder you work, the luckier you get!
It was a truth!
And in Xuan Lang's eyes, she was merely a pawn.
Just a pair of boots Xuan Lang used to kick away obstacles.