214 Chapter 214: Distance (1/2)

The matches continued on for the rest of the day, occurring in several different venues. Feeling bored, Shun Yin decided to go look around and watch the other matches instead of staying at the same arena for the entire day.

”…hmm?”

One of the matches caught his eye, not because it was particularly entertaining but because it was completely one-sided.

”That's…!”

Recognizing Charles Porter immediately, Shun Yin froze for a moment. He watched as he punched a pink-haired girl across the face, flooring her and sending her skidding across the floor with a groan.

The girl didn't give up, however. With tears in her eyes, she slowly rose to her feet and glared at her opponent, gripping her sword tightly.

”Ha ha ha! You're quite the feisty one, aren't you?”

Charles laughed as he hit her before she could parry the blow, his fiery daggers streaking past in a crimson blur and cutting her uniform. Angry red burns flared up on her skin, cauterized wounds visible as she shrieked.

Even so, Charles mercilessly kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying. She hit the floor and rolled, but slowly staggered to her knees.

”You…” she gasped, but Charles didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. He slammed a knee into her face, breaking her nose and causing blood to spurt out. With another slash from his fiery daggers, he tore open her blouse, revealing injured patches of her once pale skin.

The girl stubbornly retaliated with a riposte from her sword, but he merely parried her blade before ramming the side of her head with his elbow and grazing her temple. As blood flowed downward and impaired her vision, he kicked her.

Shun Yin cursed as he hastened his stride toward the arena. The match was so one-sided that Charles could end it at any time, but he chose not to, all so he could toy around with her opponent. The girl was hanging limply as Charles lifted her up and pressed his burning dagger to her chest, causing her to scream in agony.

”Stop!”

The teacher who was refereeing the match grabbed his shoulder and shoved him back. Shun Yin rounded on him angrily.

”The match is over! Why haven't you declared it over yet?! That girl clearly can't fight any longer!”

The teacher merely stared at him coldly. With a sudden understanding, Shun Yin realized that the teacher was under the payroll of the Porter clan.

And Charles was one of the heirs to the Porter clan, the fiancé of Angelica Porter, the future leader of the Porter family. They couldn't go against him.

”Fuck this!”

Shun Yin swore under his breath and headed toward the arena, only for the teacher to yank him back roughly.

”If you intervene, you'll be disqualified along with that girl.”

”Who cares about this stupid tournament?!” Shun Yin yelled. ”If you allow that bastard to continue his abuse, that girl might die! Will you take responsibility if that happens?”

”All students sign an indemnity form when they enroll. We are not responsible for the deaths of normal students.”

Shun Yin bristled at the callous tone. Gritting his teeth, he resisted the urge to smash the teacher's frosty face in, and instead tried to break free of his grip.

”Go ahead and disqualify me. I don't care.”

After all, Shun Yin intended to be a hero. He didn't care about tournament rankings or prestige or strength. He only cared about protecting the innocent and the vulnerable. And right now, a helpless young lady was being beaten up in front of his eyes.

He had to save her, or he would never be able to forgive himself.

However, before he could reach the stage, someone else beat him to it.

”!!!”

”…eh?”

Voices of surprise resounded from the spectators, who had been enjoying the excessive smack down this entire time. No one had protested or shown any dismay or disgust at Charles beating up a girl one-sidedly, particularly because of his background. Those who were revolted by the display of arrogance and violence had left long ago, particularly because they couldn't do anything about it. Shun Yin didn't blame them – they were shackled by the system, and by the abuse of authority. He was more furious at those who enjoyed the spectacle and reveled in the flouting of such power.

Even so…he wasn't the only one who had resolved to resist the system, the so-called authorities.

”That's enough.”

Angelica had managed to sweep up the girl in her arms and carry her away before Charles could slash her with his daggers again. Her fiancé froze for a moment, stunned by her sudden appearance, and then he broke into a smile.

”Hey, hey! Darling, even if it's you, breaking the rules and interfering in a match like this…don't you think it's an abuse of your position as the Porter clan's next leader?”

Angelica ignored him and instead turned toward the dumbfounded teacher, who was still restraining Shun Yin.

”The match is over. Why haven't you declared it yet?”

”Uh…right! Sorry about that, Lady Angelica. The match is over! The winner is Charles Porter!”

”What?! How boring.” Charles sulked, his eyes narrowing into a glare. ”My opponent can still fight, you know? She hasn't given up yet. How dare you take away her chance at victory…”

”Disgusting.” Angelica silenced him with an icy stare of her own. Even Charles found himself taken aback by her cold fury, faltering for a moment and involuntarily taking a step back. He tried futilely to suppress a shudder.

”Cheh!”

Clicking his tongue, he whirled around and stepped off the stage. Angelica didn't follow him for much longer and instead descended.

”Where are the medics? Bring this girl to the infirmary.”