The Queen’s Rise to the Top

Chapter 8

Livestream Comments:

- What? Why choose Nan Xiangwan who doesn't know anything?

- I don't want to see Xi Baiwei chained to my husband! An 18-line newbie tying down my old man!

- Don't exaggerate, sister. If I were you, I'd get the hell out of here. So embarrassing!

- To be honest, I don't really want to see their fight scene. One can only split bricks with her bare hands and the other might as well know nothing.

- Awkward!

- Their fight looks so awkward!

- But having Nan Xiangwan fight is intentional, right?

- Nan Xiangwan said earlier she doesn't know anything. Xi Baiwei is a bit crafty.

The lead director frowned backstage.

Unpleasant!

Nan Xiangwan sat upright on set, feeling Xi Baiwei's hostility.

Her eyes quickly scanned Xi Baiwei's forehead, throat, heart -

All fatal points for a one-hit kill!

But soon, she looked away.

Desperately brainwashing herself - murder is illegal in this world! Illegal!

Seeing Nan Xiangwan avert her gaze, Xi Baiwei thought she was afraid. Xi Baiwei immediately put on an arrogant smile.

Not fighting back means admitting defeat! So you're screwed and I own you!

Livestream Comments:

- What the hell? This Xi Baiwei is disgusting.

- Knew it! Xi Baiwei did that on purpose!

- I'm starting to like Nan Xiangwan. Brick-splitting with her bare hands was hilarious. Feeling some antagonism towards Xi Baiwei now.

- Where's my 400-meter longsword? Let me slaughter the woman who chained my Gu Beihuai!

- Can't stand this anymore. What's with these people exaggerating themselves to death?

- This show is gross. Can we see something interesting instead?

- The atmosphere was so good before. It's been silly since Nan Xiangwan came out until this Xi Baiwei bitch appeared!

- Want to puke!

- Hey you, found your longsword yet? I can't wait any longer!

- Make way, make way, I'm here with a rocket launcher! Let granny blow her up!

Seeing the livestream comments, the lead director's eyes twitched.

So hated?!

Looks like contestant Xi Baiwei doesn't have good public reception!

Zhao Tiancheng picked up the mic and asked, "Nan Xiangwan, want to fight?"

[Ding!]

[Triggered Mission: Fight with Xi Baiwei]

[Mission: Defeat Xi Baiwei on stage]

[Reward: Depends on how badly Xi Baiwei loses]

[Failure: $2000 cash penalty]

Nan Xiangwan immediately stood up expressionlessly and walked on stage.

She came here to make money and lift her family out of poverty!

No one could stop her!

Lose $2000?

No way!

She would win this fight even if it killed her!

Xi Baiwei frowned, but her brow quickly relaxed. She dared to accept the challenge?

With your lack of skills?

Xi Baiwei smirked confidently. She thought Nan Xiangwan wouldn't dare at first, but it didn't matter now.

Nan Xiangwan would definitely lose!

Zhao Tiancheng looked at them both: "What will you compete in?"

Xi Baiwei quickly spoke first: "Dance!"

Then she secretly glanced at dance teacher Zhao Lan.

Zhao Lan frowned, her goodwill towards Xi Baiwei dropping again.

She had just advised against choosing something you weren't good at.

Yet the first thing Xi Baiwei picked was dance?

She's clearly aware that Nan Xiangwan can't dance and wants to use it to turn the tables.

If Xi Baiwei won the dance battle, it would confirm she wasn't that bad at dancing and openly question the mentor.

Everyone knew Nan Xiangwan, who knew nothing, would surely lose!

Thinking of this, Zhao Lan's goodwill towards Xi Baiwei plummeted to hostility.

She despised crafty juniors with no skills!

Livestream Comments:

- Why does Xi Baiwei get to decide the fight terms?

- Shouldn't the challenged party pick?

- What the hell, jumping in to talk!

- You see Teacher Zhao Lan's face go dark!

Zhao Tiancheng looked at Nan Xiangwan: "They picked dance. Do you have other ideas? You have priority."

He was hinting she could change the competition.

Nan Xiangwan: "Dance it is."

Zhao Lan took a deep breath, her tone turning cold: "What music?"

Xi Baiwei cut in again: "Slow beat."

Zhao Lan couldn't stand it anymore: "I wasn't asking you. Nan Xiangwan, you get to decide the music style."

Xi Baiwei's expression soured, head lowered with a flash of hatred in her eyes.

She felt the four mentors were all against her!

Everyone was on Nan Xiangwan's side!

Nan Xiangwan tilted her head: "Fast beat music, the faster the better. Also, may I borrow a prop, teacher?"

Zhao Tiancheng agreed without hesitation: "You may. What do you need?"

Nan Xiangwan: "A sword."

Zhao Tiancheng raised a brow. Dancing with a sword?

Soon, the props team brought up a sword and specially reminded: "Trainee Nan Xiangwan, this is a real sword, very heavy, mind your safety."

Nanbei Entertainment had high standards. The props for their shows and dramas were all real, not fakes. When Nan Xiangwan asked for a sword, they couldn't find a suitable one on such short notice.

They could only bring out an unsharpened but very heavy sword.

When both sides were ready, the music started playing.

"Eight Fierce Mountains"

This background music wasn't good for dancing. Zhao Lan had personally chosen it.

When the music came on, Xi Baiwei was stunned, but she soon started swaying left and right to the beat.

As for Nan Xiangwan, she just stood there unmoving.

Holding the sword in one hand, standing straight.

Livestream Comments:

- Xi Baiwei, you're clubbing, not dancing! What's with the swaying?

- I'm dying at these two!

- One clubbing, one standing there spaced out?

- The awkwardness is bursting off the screen.

- But this music is so good, gets the blood pumping. Anyone heard a peep out of the other one?

- This instrumental piece has history. Teacher Zhao Lan is really learned!

- Mount Ba, slaying Cao's troops, bears and tigers driving sheep; Back in the day, the aura covered heaven and earth as the Three Kingdoms divided, aiding the Han emperor, the dragon got its rain.

- Greetings to the master above!

- *Bowing* to the master!

Xi Baiwei was in great pain. She had no idea how to dance to this fast-paced, lyricless folk music.

She could only stay in one spot bouncing.

Why didn't they agree to her picking a slow song?!

From the corner of her eye she glanced at Nan Xiangwan.

Xi Baiwei sneered coldly. Bouncing was still better than just standing there!

So she suddenly moved closer to Nan Xiangwan with a provocative look.

She was about to do a sexy dance right in front of Nan Xiangwan!

The livestream comments exclaimed with awkwardness again!

After staying silent for three seconds, Nan Xiangwan suddenly moved her sleeve!

The long sword flashed sharply out of its sheath!

Swish—

The blade whipped up a gust of wind as it spun out!

That wind fiercely brushed past Xi Baiwei's cheek!

Xi Baiwei shrieked and fell to the ground.

The sword didn't touch her at all. Just the gust from the blade was enough to make her cheek sting painfully!

Xi Baiwei was shocked. She had actually fallen down. A huge accident on stage!

On the other hand, Nan Xiangwan had already started dancing with her sword.

One sword move flowed into the next.