Chapter 757: Meeting Tan Han Again
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 757: Meeting Tan Han Again
"So, this stand at the Omni-Link Arena was originally meant for guests like this?" Ying Shiqian followed behind me, arriving at one of the best vantage points in the entire arena, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.
Not only was the view exceptional, but this spot was also the second most eye-catching angle for the audience, surpassed only by the dueling platform itself.
To put it nicely, it was a way to showcase the prestige of special guests. To put it bluntly, it was a way to tell the people in the ordinary spectator area that those sitting here were of no ordinary status.
Consequently, when the professional guide led me and Ying Shiqian here, the breathing of several people in certain sections of the stands hitched the moment they recognized me.
I looked toward the arena floor and then scanned the stands. The interior space of the arena felt different from my previous impressions.
Looking up from here, one could see the massive canopy of the Omni-Link Main Network Tree.
Compared to the sheer scale of the venue, the number of people present seemed rather sparse—at least, it was pitifully low compared to the packed crowds during past confrontation matches and exchange competitions.
However, the semester had only just begun. A significant number of students had only just returned to campus, some were freshers who had just enrolled, and others were pouring their time and energy into the markets and club recruitment.
Even so, the fact that this arena could draw such a crowd spoke volumes about the intensity of the matches held here.
That said, many of the people here weren't actually current students, but rather graduates who still lingered within the Witch Academy.
Some of these graduates might have stayed with a "retirement" mindset, enjoying the worry-free life the academy provided, while others still held onto the hope of ascending to become Transcendent Witches and continued to strive.
A place like the arena was a perfect spot for such people to pass the time, whether as challengers on the platform or spectators in the stands.
Amidst the vast crowd, I quickly locked onto a few specific groups. Although the distance was considerable—stretching across the entire arena to the opposite side—a Body Cultivation expert's perception was, in some ways, even more comprehensive than mental sensing.
I didn't know what those people were up to, but I knew that the moment they recognized me, they instinctively grew tense.
"Is there anything else you require, ma'am?"
"No, thank you," I said with a wave of my hand. "But I do have another question. Can I go to the prep area to see one of the contestants scheduled to appear? Her name is Tan Han. Is that allowed?"
"This... I'm sorry... In principle, that is not permitted..." The guide spoke with a hint of hesitation upon hearing my request.
"In principle... So, how can I see her?" I pressed. As for the so-called "principles" of these people—did they truly have any?
"In principle, no one is allowed to disturb the contestants without cause, especially those about to go on stage. However, we are aware of your friendship with contestant Tan Han. Therefore, we will go to the prep area and inquire with her. If Miss Tan Han is willing to see you, it will be easy to arrange. If she refuses... then I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."
"I see. That works."
Leaving the choice to Tan Han was the most appropriate way to handle it. After all, no matter how special a guest was, they couldn't simply flout the arena's rules. But they had their own workarounds; if Tan Han herself requested to see a friend, it wouldn't count as a violation.
"Then I shall go to the prep area to inquire for you. Please wait a moment."
Once the guide left, only Ying Shiqian and I remained.
"Ah~ this service is really something... I'm definitely riding your coattails this time, Xiao Han. I never imagined I'd be watching a match from here." Senior Sister Ying Shiqian was quite excited, a complete 180 from her drowsy state during the club recruitment earlier.
She hadn't even sat down properly; she spent most of her time leaning over the edge of the stand, taking in the premium view.
"It's just a temporary convenience brought by status and strength. Senior Sister Ying Shiqian, what are your thoughts on Tan Han's upcoming match?"
"Eh? Me? Thoughts? I'm just a spectator~ I'm not exactly an expert in combat. But I think Tan Han will win again!"
"Intuition?"
"Exactly~ a woman's intuition!" Ying Shiqian said with a laugh.
"Then, Senior Sister, why do you think... those people keep challenging Tan Han? Since they keep challenging her, it means she hasn't lost yet, right?"
"It's definitely for the Staff of Absolute Cold. What else could it be?"
"Is that so?" I shrugged, not denying the claim.
The Staff of Absolute Cold was merely a gimmick. Within the Witch Academy, a persistent Luck node had already formed. Although everyone realized the existence of Luck and knew of the Script's arrangements, so what?
Could "knowing" not also be a part of the Script?
Even I, with my deep understanding of Luck and having severed the Ley Line Shackles, was still frequently pushed along by the currents of destiny.
Thus, everyone here had formed a massive Script event, driving Tan Han, this Child of Destiny, to undergo constant trials.
Wasn't this also a part of a Child of Destiny's growth?
My basis for this conclusion was that through these constant challenges, Tan Han was growing at a rate that allowed her to face opponents at the Teaching Assistant level.
If she were alone, she certainly wouldn't be able to withstand the schemes of so many Teaching Assistants, clubs, and upperclassmen.
Therefore, while others plotted against her, the value Tan Han displayed must have prompted many to secretly back her.
After all, if a person has value, people will inevitably step up to protect that value.
The first to stand up was actually the Shopkeeper, and on the surface, she was the only one backing Tan Han.
Once a person demonstrates their worth, the people around them split into two opposing camps.
Malice and Goodwill.
In Tan Han's current predicament, if she wanted to break the deadlock in her favor, she needed to keep growing and internalize the influence the Staff of Absolute Cold brought her.
She had to reach a point where, even if she lost the staff, her intrinsic value would still make it worthwhile for those showing her goodwill to continue helping her.
For Tan Han, this was a long-term "Main Quest," because she couldn't leap to such heights of power without accumulation and time. The special side quests interspersed within were the keys to her rise.
Of course, this was merely my speculation.
Furthermore, this speculation was built on the premise that Tan Han would eventually lose those external items. What if her Script was to transform the Staff of Absolute Cold into a Great Spellbook and make it a permanent part of her strength?
But if that were the case... what about the Ancient Remnant Ice transformation?
Under the interference of Luck, Tan Han should have held onto it tightly. Instead, after a series of events, she had personally handed it over to that girl named Xiao You.
Giving something away personally is a very different concept from having it stolen. At that time, Luck had plenty of room to turn Tan Han and Xiao You into enemies, but the final result was otherwise.
Therefore, on the level of Luck, the Ancient Remnant Ice transformation did not belong to Tan Han.
In the early stages, that transformation undoubtedly gave Tan Han a massive boost in combat power. Even now, there were few ways to phase out an Over-Consumption Spellbook.
If that spellbook had no special significance, there would be no need for such a fuss; she could have just used it. It was just a tool.
"Xiao Han, you think those people aren't here for the Staff of Absolute Cold?" Ying Shiqian chimed in, her tone laced with uncertainty.
"Have some confidence, Senior Sister. I only asked 'Is that so?' There's no need to overthink it," I said, looking at her with a smile.
I didn't intend to continue this topic. Sometimes, overthinking the Script is just a meaningless exercise; anything can be explained away as a coincidence.
Assign a meaning to that coincidence, and it becomes a Script. Leave it without meaning, and it's just an experience.
"By the way, Senior Sister, do you really enjoy watching these live combat matches in the arena?"
"Of course I do~"
"Then, have you ever thought about stepping onto the stage yourself?"
"Me? On stage? Forget it~ I told you, I'm not very good at fighting~" Ying Shiqian waved her hands frantically.
"Be brave and give it a try. It's easy to open the door to a whole new world~" I said with a laugh, then stood up and walked to the front railing, standing side-by-side with her.
"I'll pass... I'm just an unpromising, ordinary person who has already started enjoying a life of waiting to die." As she said this, Ying Shiqian seemed to realize it didn't sound very good, and her voice trailed off. "Saying that... Xiao Han, do you think it's terrible to know someone like me?"
"Not at all. If everyone did exactly what I expected and became what I wanted them to be, I think that would be a much worse world."
These words came from the heart, but there was a second half I didn't say: In a world where no one changes to suit my expectations for no reason, being able to make someone do something of their own free will—that is where the true sense of achievement lies.
"True~ everyone has their own way of living. Actually, I've even thought about how I'll die. Xiao Han, by then, you'll probably be a Transcendent Witch, right? Will you come to my funeral?"
"I probably will. I'll even bring a piece of Senior Sister Tang Yihan's cake to leave at your grave. You won't mind, right?"
"Eh?! Who wants her cake! I'm definitely going to outlive that girl!"
"I wouldn't be so sure. After all, every time she makes a new product, aren't you the first one to taste it?" I countered with a smile.
"Tsk... I can't even argue with that... If I ever get poisoned to death by her, she really might put her cake on my grave!"
"Wait, why are you getting so worked up over such a weird detail?" Besides... if Tang Yihan really did invent a cake so lethal that even Resurrection Spells couldn't fix it, she'd be a genius in her own right.
What started as a heavy topic like death had somehow turned lighthearted.
However... I actually did hope that the people I knew would all ascend to become Transcendent Witches, Ying Shiqian included. But I wouldn't force anything.
As Senior Sister Ying Shiqian and I chatted idly, the guide who had left earlier returned.
"Pardon the interruption. Contestant Tan Han has agreed. She is currently waiting for you in the prep area."
"Looks like it's time to head out." I turned to the guide. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep Tan Han waiting too long."
"That was fast. Talk about efficiency." Ying Shiqian hurried to follow.
Leaving the spectator area, we followed a corridor into the interior of the arena.
After a bit of navigating, we finally arrived at the contestant area.
Through my perception, I realized the contestant area seemed to be located beneath the arena floor. Different areas had different ways of entering the stage; the most common was entering from the sidelines.
Then there were those who entered via elevators directly onto the field. Obviously, such a stylish entrance wasn't available to just anyone.
But... Tan Han was an exception.
Her opponent was someone at the Teaching Assistant level. Matches of this caliber drew massive crowds every time.
Pushing open the door to the contestant prep area, the interior was revealed to me. Tan Han was right there.
"Long time no see, Tan Han."
The Tan Han standing before me had lost much of her former flippancy and gained a touch of steadiness. Perhaps because this was a closed underground area, there was a slightly gloomy and stifling atmosphere. No matter how bright the interior design was, it couldn't dispel that sense of oppression.
At this moment, Tan Han seemed to be in the middle of her preparations. Her clothes were very light and form-fitting, outlining her figure perfectly. Large patches of skin were exposed, as if she were waiting to put on her specialized combat suit.
Even so, I remained unmoved. The Tan Han in my eyes stirred not a single shred of desire; instead, I only saw the scars on her body.
I didn't believe that students in the Witch Academy would naturally have scars left on them. The only reason they remained was... the owner of the body had chosen to keep them.
"Xiao Han, it really has been a while. I didn't expect you to come here." Tan Han responded to my greeting, her tone normal, as if she were meeting an old friend.
But through Heart Sense, I could feel the... exhaustion originating from deep within her.
"School's started~ I'm taking the opportunity to give myself a little vacation," I said with a shrug. "But honestly, those scars on you are a bit ugly."
"Are they?" Tan Han was slightly stunned. She hadn't expected my first words to be about that. "These scars were left behind match after match. They serve as lessons and reminders of every mistake I've made. Their existence has meaning."
"Don't be so eager to prove their meaning to me~ Sometimes... the more you emphasize something, the more you're actually lacking it." I said with a smile. I didn't state my opinion as bluntly as I would have in the past; after all, I had my own growth.
"..."
"Shopkeeper Xia Li~ you're here too. And you." Seeing Tan Han fall silent at my words, I shifted the topic elsewhere.
Looking around, the first person I saw was Shopkeeper Xia Li.
The one I hadn't named was Xiao You, the girl who had taken the Ancient Remnant Ice from Tan Han. The fact that she was still following Tan Han here meant their relationship was indeed unusual.
"Xiao Han... I... I didn't think you'd come." The Shopkeeper seemed a bit uneasy as she spoke.
"I ran into Senior Sister Ying Shiqian at the club recruitment and learned a bit about your situation, so I came over. To think such a big thing happened and you didn't even mention it to me... Shopkeeper, you really don't treat me as a member of the Baking House~"
"I'm sorry... Xiao Han." Xia Li spoke apologetically, though she seemed touched by my mention of being a member of the Baking House. "This is mainly between me and Xiao Tan. If you got involved, it would cause you a lot of trouble... Anyway, don't you hate trouble the most?"
"That depends on the situation~" Like now, when I happened to be very free.