51: sBanished Immortals (1/2)

Chapter 51: ”Banished Immortal”

Translator: TransNEditor: TransN

After collecting all the details, Lou Cheng was guided by staff into a small conference room where top 32 such as Huang Zhenzhong, Ye Youting, Wang Ye and Zhou Yuanning were already seated. According to the rules of the Phoenix Cup Warrior Sage Candidate Challenge Tournament, they had to sign a contract with the sponsor Yanling Group, pledging integrity during the competition.

As a newcomer, Lou Cheng looked around and sneaked into a corner as usual, waiting for the sponsor to show up.

”Hey, you were excellent yesterday with Wu Shitong, I dreamed of having your Listening Skill one day.” A fighter greeted him with a smile as Lou Cheng sat beside him.

Turing around, that fighter, who had a delicate beauty like a girl but was not feminine, caught his eyes.

The fighter was a young student about Lou Cheng's age, handsome and graceful, with shoulder-length hair like an artist. At first sight, Lou Cheng took him as a pretty classical boy, and then he thought about a banished immortal.

”With his looking, he can just enter the entertainment circle and be an idol.

If Little Ming ever sees him, it must be a big blow to Little Ming's ego…” Lou Cheng secretly joked about the Talker and politely answered. ”Thank you, thank you, guess I am just a lucky dog who has nothing to brag about.”

”No lucky dog would have such powerful Listening Skill.” The Banished Immortal shook his head with a smile. ”Oh, I haven't introduced myself. Hi, Lou Cheng, I am Li Xiaoyuan.”

Then came Lou Cheng's ”ah ha” moment. ”You are Li Xiaoyuan. I have just watched your video highlights on the screens. Your play is so graceful and marvelous.”

Matches were recorded in a long shot, so spectators were informed of which player in the ring by narration rather than their appearance, which explained Lou Cheng's earlier confusion.

He was a seeded player, the strong one among all Professional Ninth Pin masters.

”Video highlights are tricky. As long as you take some time to edit, my cat and dog can be martial experts,” Li Xiaoyuan smiled and said.

Lou Cheng relaxed a bit when he found that Li Xiaoyuan was not trying to show off and easy to get along with. ”I don't know why your name seems so familiar to me. Have I seen your name somewhere else other than this competition?”

”That's your problem, how am I supposed to know the answer?” Li Xiaoyuan mischievously smiled and added, ”But we might see each other in the next few years.”

”Might?” Lou Cheng looked as puzzled as the Confused Nick Young.

Arousing Lou Cheng's curiosity, Li Xiaoyuan said with a smile, ”Now Songcheng University Martial Arts Club has you and Lin Que. Sooner or later you guys would make it to the national final. Then we will meet again.”

Upon hearing this, Lou Cheng finally recalled where he had heard about Li Xiaoyuan.

”Unparalleled Dragon King”, the human databank, used to comment Lin Que in this way. ”... Among all freshmen this year, Li Xiaoyuan in Guangnan University, Fang Zhirong and Feng Wen in Shanbei University all are better than Lin Que...”

Since Dragon King mentioned once, Lou Cheng had already forgotten about it, even ”Road to the Arena” and ”Invincible Punch” failed to mention Li Xiaoyuan in the live broadcast post.

”You are Li Xiaoyuan from Guangnan University?” Lou Cheng asked.

Li Xiaoyuan nodded, ”When I get your profile, I am rather shocked to find out you are a student from Songcheng University. I roughly predict Lin Que's strength through videos, and he is indeed powerful. Songcheng has Lin Que and now you, a rather good amateur fighter, so it makes no sense that Songcheng wasn't top 8 in the district contest.”

”Awkward…” Lou Cheng felt ashamed and subconsciously scratched his head. ”I only start to make progress in martial arts recently.”

After a few explanations, he changed the subject and asked, ”What brings you here?”

Li Xiaoyuan took out his ID from the wallet and handed it to Lou Cheng. ”See for yourself.”

Lou Cheng blankly looked at it and then gave a careful look, on which ”Yanling” stood out.

”You are local...”

As he was about to compliment Li Xiaoyuan's ID photo, Liu Zunyu, chairman of the Yanyu Group, came inside with other principals, followed by a bunch of impressive bodyguards.

Liu Zunyu said to the leader of bodyguards, ”Old Sheng, hand out the contracts.”

”Old Sheng, wearing sunglasses, was silent and secretive, average height and firmly-built. When he sent out the contracts, Liu Zunyu rolled his hands like a martial arts fighter and greeted them as a home practicing disciple of Kongtong School.

”Thank you all for attending the Phoenix Cup Warrior Sage Candidate Challenge Tournament. From my perspective, there is no need to sign any contracts. As a country has its state laws and a family needs family rules, rules are to set in this competition. I have faith in you guys, who will not lose competitions deliberately and trade your integrity for some gambling money. These contracts are to keep up the appearance.” Liu Zunyu was a sweet talker, not wanting to put people on the defensive.

After his speech, other principals continued with detailed introductions.

Now the contract was passed to Lou Cheng. As a freshman not majoring in law, he just thumbed through pages and grasped the main idea. Any fighter who was involved in gambling on his/her own match would be punished according to the rules of martial arts circle rather than the law.

”Martial arts competition is designed to compete in strength, including both talent and preparations. Any behaviors are permitted as long as they are not against the law.”

”Those who gamble on their own matches are despised by their mates and spectators who pay to watch a real fight. As for masters with physical invulnerability, they are rich and powerful, impossible to be bribed or threatened. However, for a small competition like ours, reputation must be prioritized for the following competitions to be held. In earlier rounds, there was fewer spectators and chance for fighters involved in gambling was slight. From now on, the following competitions will be broadcast live on Yanling television station and we have to take preventive measures.” A Principal explained.

”I believe that everyone is familiar with rules of the martial arts circle. Abandon one's martial accomplishments by stabbing a knife into his/her each calf three times.”

The last few words were spoken out ghastly.

Lou Cheng's mouth grew wide as he had never participated in any similar events. But on second thought, this proposal was reasonable.

Lou Cheng kept his bottom line, so gambling wouldn't be an issue for him. He picked up the pen and was ready to sign the contract.