It was, without a doubt, a match with zero suspense.

Yet the Starlight Feather Squad—supposed to dominate—ended up utterly crushed by the Shining Star Squad!

Qu Yi stood beside Ye Thirteen, mouth slightly agape, utterly stunned.

Burdened by heavier studies and patrol duties, Qu Yi hadn’t watched a league match in ages.

She barely squeezed time for her own training—how could she possibly spare moments for matches?

Still, she never imagined today’s league teams would be *this* weak!

Qu Yi asked, voice laced with disbelief:

“Are they… even on the same team?”

“Like hell they are!” Ye Thirteen snapped through gritted teeth.

As if one curse wasn’t enough, he added, jaw tight:

“Each one’s so busy showing off they hand the enemy victory on a silver platter! No wonder their record’s trash!”

Qu Yi frowned, genuinely confused:

“How clueless can they be? Fighting like that guarantees a loss!”

Ye Thirteen’s face darkened.

“They’re not stupid—they’re *clever*. They know they’ll lose. They fight this way *because* they don’t care about the squad’s score.

They’re not fighting for the team. They’re fighting for themselves, desperately inflating their own market value.

The Starlight Feather Squad lost the match… but *they* won.”

No one’s that blind after so many losses. Zhou Peng’s group simply refused to play second fiddle.

Ye Thirteen once kept them in line—back then, they only dared minor stunts.

Now he’s gone. Fang Yuankun, thrust into captaincy, clearly can’t control them.

Ye Thirteen didn’t know the details post-departure, but he was certain: Fang Yuankun messed up badly, fracturing the whole squad.

Don’t be fooled by Tian Jiashu’s calm facade. Ye Thirteen’s sharp eyes saw it instantly—she wasn’t genuinely supporting Fang Yuankun.

Had she been, after the enemy exhausted themselves taking down Zhou Peng’s trio, Fang and Tian might’ve stood a chance.

But the moment Fang nearly defeated an opponent, Tian deliberately left an opening—letting the enemy strike.

Result? It looked like Fang failed to protect her, costing them the match.

Even commentators lamented: *If only Fang guarded Tian better…*

After all, as a priest holding her own in a two-against-five? She’d done remarkably well.

Just as Ye Thirteen fumed, Qu Yi’s shocked whisper cut through:

“So… this actually happens?”

Qu Yi never imagined tactics like this. The Starlight Feather Squad’s collapse exposed deep rot in the league.

Even someone as young as her found it hard to swallow.

If *she* struggled to accept it, decade-long fans were practically sharpening knives.

Live stream chats flooded with raging trolls.

Ye Thirteen let out a cold laugh.

“Those fools think shining solo boosts their value—gets them snatched next year for big money.

But they forget: the league *never* lacks rising stars.

Why pay top coin for ungrateful traitors?

Even teams missing rookies would only take them reluctantly—and never as mains. Just support for *their* homegrown ace.

They’ll never admit fault. Blame-shifting starts the second things go wrong. Hmph.”

His words carried bitterness, yet held truth.

Only under desperate circumstances—like a squad’s ace leaving *and* failing Rookie King trials—might Zhou Peng’s group ever be considered mains.

Take Shining Star Squad: they desperately need a capable General Rank Demon Hunter.

But dead last in the league? Even if Zhou Peng’s group agreed (doubtful), Shining Star likely couldn’t afford them.

After all, Zhou Peng and the others were General Rank Demon Hunters personally nurtured by Starlight Feather Squad.

Ye Thirteen contributed greatly, but credit officially went to the squad.

No team poaches such investments without satisfying Starlight Feather’s management. Period.

Hence Ye Thirteen’s verdict: Zhou Peng’s group isn’t dumb—they know how to showcase value.

But foolish? Absolutely. Did they consider: *Would anyone even want them?*

And even if yes… would Starlight Feather *let* them go?

They’re not Ye Thirteen.

Ye Thirteen came and went as he pleased. No one in this world could—or *dared*—hold him back.

Zhou Peng’s group? Easily restrained.

The squad’s investment was undeniable. Contractually, serving years more was normal.

Bench them indefinitely? They’d have no recourse.

Truth was, Ye Thirteen’s status was uniquely towering—even overshadowing squad executives.

Having such a revered yet non-revenue figure around? A constant thorn for management.

Ye Thirteen was untouchable. Uncriticizable.

Beyond his own strength, the league and nation held him in such esteem that *any* incident involving him would bring severe consequences upon executives.

They had money—enough to hire a Royal-tier Demon Hunter.

But against the league? The nation? They were nothing.

Thus, engineering Ye Thirteen’s “voluntary resignation” was indeed the cleanest solution.

Unaware of the shadows in his words, Qu Yi only saw his fury. Heart aching, she gently patted his back:

“The league’s messed up anyway. Honestly, Uncle, it’s *good* you weren’t selected! Stick with this young lady—I’ll keep you fed and happy!”

Ye Thirteen’s anger instantly deflated, replaced by flustered exasperation.

*Me? Ye Thirteen? One of Dragon Realm’s pioneer Demonhunters… reduced to being taken in by this little brat?*

Then Qu Yi added, voice sweet:

“C’mon, don’t sulk~ Later, let’s hit the supermarket near your place, grab ingredients, and cook dinner at your house? I just mastered a few signature dishes~”

“Deal!”

Ye Thirteen’s reply came without a heartbeat’s hesitation.