The Night of Hunting Games

The atmosphere in the classroom grew a bit awkward. Jordan glanced around, his lips curling into a slight smile, but he didn't say anything further. Instead, he calmly adjusted his sleeves and walked out of the classroom.

Alex remained seated, his expression unchanged as he looked out at the gentle moonlight. His fingers lightly touched the mark of the spear technique under his sleeve, a calm and steely glint in his eyes.

He knew well that true strength doesn't need words to prove itself.

As most eyes were fixed on Jordan, a small shadow crept along the hallway, sneaking up behind Alex and suddenly lunging at his back with a swift attack.

Alex stayed seated, unmoved.

Elder Yang's face changed, quickly turning to look toward the window.

But Alex spoke first, unhurriedly,"I could smell you before you even entered the classroom."

The attack stopped abruptly.

"You're so boring!"

A red-haired boy with messy hair popped out from behind Alex. It was Little Fly, the prank king of the class. He plopped down next to Alex, completely ignoring Jordan's conversation, seemingly unaware of the shift in atmosphere.

"Stop bragging!" Little Fly said, with a touch of excitement in his eyes."Hey Alex, when are you going to teach me those cool spear moves? I can't wait!"

Alex thought for a moment and slowly said,"I can teach you the basics, but my master said spear techniques can't be taught to outsiders."

"Oh, come on, I don't care about the basics. I want to learn your 'Whirling Spear' and 'Poseidon's Trident'!" Little Fly eagerly patted Alex's arm."How about I bring you your favorite sweet syrup?"

Alex chuckled and shook his head."That's not possible, I need to ask my master."

"Tch, do you have to ask your master for everything? Can't you make a decision on your own?" Little Fly grumbled, dissatisfied.

"If my master finds out, he might get very angry," Alex replied calmly, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

Little Fly wrinkled his nose, looking resentful."Stingy, boring!" He quickly turned and joined another lively conversation, soon forgetting the whole matter.

Alex's fingers gently brushed the large bundle over a meter long on the desk. Inside was a cleverly segmented spear, his long-time training companion. The time was approaching. He took a deep breath, grabbed the bundle with one hand, his hand trembling slightly and palm sweating, and briskly walked out of the classroom.

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By the bonfire, the principal and students formed a tight circle, creating a small stage in the silent night.

The girl's eyes focused only on the boy in the center of the circle. He stood at the edge of the flickering firelight, his figure swaying in the faint light. Each movement was slow and ancient, filled with old mystery, but there wasn't much applause.

At the climax, the boy's short spear trembled, turning into a dancing flame, splitting from one to three, then to nine, like a mesmerizing fiery flower. To her, the boy looked like a mysterious magician, turning the quiet night into a magnificent painting, sketching out a wondrous world.

However, the cheerful atmosphere was broken by a scream from the nearby woods.

A girl noticed something strange and asked,"Brookie, did you hear something?"

"No, don't interrupt me, I'm watching... his performance," she seemed completely absorbed in the boy's performance. When her hero finally steadied his spear, standing firmly like a mountain, Brooke was the first to applaud, unaware that her hands had turned red.

The principal also smiled and clapped. Many children stared at the boy's short spear, their eyes full of hope for the future, as if seeing their dreams in the boy.

The summer night breeze gently blew, the academy's bonfire burned brightly, illuminating everyone's faces with a dreamy and dazzling scene. The firelight danced, and the scent of burning wood filled the air.

A melodious tune began, calming the noise, and everyone's attention focused on the center. A graceful figure appeared, walking lightly like willow leaves in the wind—Brooke stepped into the glow of the bonfire.

She wore a light blue gauzy dress, with the hem gently lifting like ripples on a lake. The silver bells on her forehead tinkled softly, each step seemingly on the music. Her movements exuded an ethereal beauty untouched by dust.

The bonfire illuminated her side profile, her clear eyes shining in the firelight. And her gaze, among the onlookers, seemed to seek only one figure—Alex.

As the music played, Brooke slowly raised her arms, her slender fingers drawing elegant arcs in the air. Her dance seemed to guide the night wind, flowing gently with her spins. Her sleeves spread like water waves, and the silver bells jingled with her steps, like scattered starlight in the sky.

The crowd watched, entranced by her dance, but Brooke's eyes constantly lingered on one person—Alex.

Alex stood on the outer edge of the crowd, quietly watching Brooke in the center. He was mesmerized, his heart slightly accelerating, as if the whole world had quieted because of her dance. Her light spins, the momentary glance, the swirling dress in the firelight, felt like a poem written in the night, and this poem seemed to be just for him.

After a graceful spin, Brooke gently leaped, her dress flying like a shooting star in the night, landing softly like a feather. She panted slightly, a few strands of hair swaying with the residual music, and her eyes still looked quietly at Alex, a faint smile on her lips.

In that moment, Alex felt his heart being stirred by something. The smile carried the warmth of the bonfire and an unspoken emotion, slowly melting into his heart.

Applause suddenly broke the brief silence, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Brooke withdrew her gaze, bowing slightly to the audience, but the direction was right where the boy stood. Alex's face turned bright red, as if that dance was just for him.

Yet Alex knew, it was more than just a dance.

Jordan snorted in dissatisfaction before stepping into the center of the stage with his sword. This was his chance to shine, his show time. With his handsome looks and tall stature, Jordan immediately drew cheers from the girls in the audience.

He was pleased with the reaction—this was the opening he had hoped for. He struck a starting pose, and then his sword moves became a dazzling display, earning more applause. Elder Yang shook his head slightly. Though his grandson's swordsmanship looked impressive, it was far less practical than the spear techniques of that young boy. In a real fight, Jordan probably wouldn't last a single round. But in these peaceful times, practical combat skills weren't as necessary—physical fitness was enough.

Alex watched for a few moments but couldn't stand it any longer. Feeling a bit thirsty, he left the crowd and went to the water room to get a drink. The sodas sold by the village women were too sweet, like their smiles. The water room had mountain spring water brought down by bamboo pipes, cool and refreshing.

Just as he entered the water room, he saw Brooke sitting on a wooden stool, washing her feet under the bamboo pipe. She had been dancing barefoot earlier, and her feet were covered in dust. The clean girl was rinsing them off. She hadn't expected Alex to walk in and hastily covered her feet with her dress, feeling shy.

Alex had never seen such fair feet before, his heart skipped a beat, but his face turned red as he stammered,"Sorry, I didn't know you were here. I'll leave..."

He turned to leave but then came back and said,"Your dance was really beautiful!"

Brooke, having recovered her composure, saw that Alex was even more embarrassed than she was and couldn't help but laugh."Beautiful? Do I get a prize then?"

Alex was taken aback."Principal Zhang didn't mention any prizes..."

Brooke rested her head on her knees, giggling uncontrollably.

Alex, still puzzled, said,"Let me go ask him for you!" With that, he turned and ran out.

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Jordan's sword dance ended, and he was surrounded by a group of girls. He thoroughly enjoyed the attention, though he kept saying modest things like,"It's nothing, even a monkey could do it with enough practice," making the girls giggle.

The crowd stayed around for a while, enjoying the scene. A broad-shouldered young man named Diz Dan glanced disdainfully at Jordan before pulling a woman in her thirties out of his fan circle to ask her,"Sis, where's my big brother? Why isn't he here yet?"

"He and second brother slipped away early. I guess they're hiding somewhere, drinking," she replied.

Diz Dan's eyes sparkled mischievously."Alright, I'll help catch them!"

She raised an eyebrow skeptically."Afraid you'll miss out on the good wine, right?"

Diz Dan slowed his pace, feeling a bit embarrassed."Of course not," he mumbled, glancing around, eager to find his two brothers who had left him to drink alone.

Suddenly, Diz Dan noticed a blurry figure at the edge of the woods. He squinted, trying to make it out. The figure moved closer, its movements stiff and awkward. As it approached, he saw the person's clothes were tattered and covered in blood. The villager's face was pale, eyes filled with despair and fear.

The figure let out a hoarse cry,"Help... me! Save... me!"

The voice seemed to come from deep within the throat. Diz Dan's heart raced as he watched the person stagger towards the wooden fence, using the last of their strength. Just as they were about to reach it, they collapsed with a thud.