Chapter 191: Chapter 191 Advice.
He sighed, then extended his index and thumb fingers and pinched her left cheek, which was smooth and soft to the touch. Soma stretched her cheek, making Xiao Lian\'s brows knit in pain. He felt slight guilt for doing that, but this is important. Soma retracted his fingers and faced her at a close distance.
"Ouwch, dat huts".
"Why did you decide to fight them? And without thinking it through?".
Xiao Lian, who was being released from the pain, rubbed her red cheek as she sobered up and soon realized what she had done. She lifted her gaze to face Soma\'s calm face, but somehow, she was too shy to face his gaze, so she threw her gaze away to the side and began to open her mouth.
"Nothing, it was just, maybe if I defeat him in a fight, that guy will probably stop pursuing me, and I wouldn\'t give you any trouble".
"That is if you win, right? Then, have you ever thought about what will happen if you lose".
"No, I\'m sure that I will win, looking at his state at that time when you! Soma clenched his hand, making his face turn blue. I assume that the guy was weak against physical abilities and probably used magic as his fighting style".
Soma listened quietly while Xiao Lian explained her earlier decision. It\'s true, and Soma also felt the red-haired senior at that time was a bit weaker in his physique aspect. But, she still lacked something, something that a second year in this academy and the first year still lacked.
"Listen, Xiao Lian, don\'t underestimate your opponent. You probably think that because he is a magic user and you are a martial artist, you could beat him in a flash, but you miss the important point…".
"?!".
"... It was the experience he gained after enrolling in this academy that we clearly lacked. I know that you have already experienced some exploration in a dungeon or gate like that time, but it was just the tip of the iceberg. The seniors who already stayed in this academy for a year were clearly in different leagues on their own".
"?! I see".
This was something Xiao Lian had to overcome if she wanted to become a powerhouse in the future. She was indeed strong and had many experiences regarding Martial arts because of the teaching of her family. With her trained mental strength since she was little, she grew up to become a brave and strong-hearted girl.
However, because of that, she lacks something called a cautious mind, for she is always jumping straight toward danger and facing her enemy head-on in every attempt she can make. In the trial gate the god had given to her, she was following Soma\'s lead, so she is relatively tame than usual.
Still, even that is Xiao Lian true nature sometimes shows outside, making Soma and Hina perplexed when dealing with her.
Also, because of the lack of that part of mentality she possesses. Xiao Lian will suffer a great demise in the future because of her lack of cautious mind, letting her lose someone important to her.
Soma, who knew her life, didn\'t want her to experience the same path as she did in the story. So, rather than later, he will imprint the lesson on her right now so that she can grow stronger in the earlier phase and maybe exceed her potential.
"So, Xiao Lian. Next time, please think before you act. Well, this is something I shouldn\'t say by myself, but Xiao Lian, I know you are a strong and brave girl, but please don\'t act recklessly just because you have the strength to do it, I don\'t want you to feel sad or suffer because of the reckless choice you pick".
Xiao Lian, who always avoids eye contact with Soma, stares right into his eyes with a face full of question marks.
"...Why?".
"What is it?".
Soma calmly gazes at her serene eyes, peeking through his soul, curious about his feelings.
"Why are you telling me all of this?".
"Why? That is because I will be sad if you are sad and suffering. You are important to me after all".
[Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]
"?!".
Xiao Lian\'s body jolted as intense heat began to run course through her body, giving her entire body a comfortable warmth that she never felt in her life. Her heart was beating so rapidly that she feared it would burst at any moment. Her face was hot. She could tell that she was furiously blushing right now.
Xiao Lian cast her gaze down, not wanting to see his calm gaze that seemed to look at her like a protector that would always guard her in any peril she had.
Unknown to her, Xiao Lian\'s facial face was loosened as her lips were curved slightly because of the joy and warmth feeling that gathered in her heart, sending a happy emotion to her brain.
"Please don\'t act recklessly from now on! Xiao Lian, do you understand?".
"...Um, understood".
"Why the sudden formal speech. Okay, then I will be going first. Remember this if that guy offers a bet or something, refuses his offer, or just ignores him. don\'t get drowned in his Bullshit".
"Okay, I will. Thanks Soma".
"Good, then I will be going and make sure to observe my fight. Maybe it will become a good lesson for you".
Xiao Lian, who felt Soma\'s presence separating from her, lifted her gaze and saw his broad back that gave her a secure feeling. She clenched her left chest as she softly whispered.
"Do your best, Soma".
Soma, who separated himself from Xiao Lian, kept inhaling a few breaths and exhaling them several times to calm his racing heart after he spouted some cheesy line that made his skin crawl. "My God, that was so embarrassing, fuu".
However, thanks to his skill, he managed to control his emotions to a certain degree and let his face show a calm side while his heart was in turmoil because of it.
"It seems you are done with the tactics meeting?". mp _y,r.
Soma met gaze with his opponent. A senior with the name Jian Li stood with a straight posture and a dark brown wooden sword, placing it behind his back, pointing its tip to the sky.
"Yeah, sorry if I make you wait".
Jian Li softly shook his head to the side while exhaling a breath. He loosened his posture and cupped his fist first before forming his upper stance while holding his wooden sword using his right hand only.
"Then, shall we begin?".
Soma, who saw his opponent gesture, cupped his fist to show respect as a person who walked the path of a Martial Artist. He began to prepare his middle stance and sharpened his gaze to its limit because of the unknown strength Jiang Li possessed.
"I\'m ready".