After the clash ended, Li Hao did not praise Wang Lei nor criticize him immediately, but instead gathered the entire team in a quiet corner of the training grounds, his expression calm yet firm, as if the brief fight had only confirmed what he had already anticipated would happen sooner or later.
"No unnecessary fights from now on," he said, his voice steady.
Wang Lei frowned slightly, still holding onto the lingering heat of battle. "But they're the ones provoking us."
"I know," Li Hao replied, meeting his gaze directly. "And that's exactly why we cannot respond the way they expect."
Lin Xue crossed her arms thoughtfully. "They want us to lose control so they can justify pushing harder."
Su Ling nodded in agreement. "If we escalate too quickly, the elders might turn against us."
Li Hao gave a slight nod, acknowledging their understanding. "This isn't about winning small confrontations," he continued. "It's about maintaining control over the situation until the right moment."
Xu Mei watched him quietly, her expression softening slightly as she understood the deeper meaning behind his words, because Li Hao was not simply avoiding conflict—he was shaping it.
"Zhao Kun is waiting," Li Hao added. "And when he moves, it won't be small."
The group fell silent.
They all understood.
The real battle had not yet begun.