Chapter 455: Chapter 454 Shao Zifeng’s Cunning Moves (Two in One)

Because everything that had just happened was so sudden.

All of the audience subconsciously held their breath.

Aside from the crackling of electricity, the entire ruin of the city fell into a sinister silence.

Clang, clang!

The sound of an empty can rolling echoed through the air.

The dim and flickering streetlights pulsated as the Resentful Spirit slowly awoke.

It first looked around, seemingly dazed; under the dim light, it even appeared somewhat adorably awkward.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, the Resentful Spirit quickly lowered its head.

Beneath it, Xiang Nan’s face was pale, blood oozing from his mouth and nose; he had his eyes tightly shut as his body occasionally twitched.

The panic-stricken Resentful Spirit floated up into the air, circling anxiously around Xiang Nan.

Before it could calm down, it saw Shao Zifeng standing not far away, and the Resentful Spirit grew even more agitated.

It tried to look ferocious, but the emotional waves it emitted betrayed it; Shao Zifeng could clearly feel the fear in the heart of the Resentful Spirit.

“Cough, cough…”

At that moment, the weak coughing of Xiang Nan arose.

Bright crimson blood gushed from his mouth as the Resentful Spirit flew to his side, emitting anxious cries.

“Trash, the disgrace of Su City University.”

“Get the guy who attacks from behind off the team.”

Sudden roars broke the silence of the darkness, followed by an outraged commotion from the entire audience stand. Students who had never experienced the harshness of society considered Xiang Nan’s actions shameful. Of course, there were also quite a few people who believed that in the real combat simulation mode, no methods were too excessive; if it were in a real wild environment, there would be no bounds of etiquette and morality.

The live-streaming rooms and forums in Bin City were all ablaze with this issue; everyone had their own opinions.

Although these people claimed to be angry because they had been sneak-attacked, Shao Zifeng felt it was somewhat grating.

Because not long ago, those students were also howling for him to get lost.

“Hiss!”

Hearing these insults directed at its master, the timid and cowardly Resentful Spirit suddenly shed its previous weakness. It glared into the darkness where the audience sat, emitting a sharp cry.

Even if that cry was quickly drowned out by the noisy clamor.

“Heh heh… Cough, cough…”

Lying on the ground, Xiang Nan suddenly let out a laugh; propping himself up with his arm, he struggled to lift his head. His eyes, filled with resentment, looked toward Shao Zifeng as fresh blood continued to drip through his teeth.

Shao Zifeng stood still, calmly shaking his short sword: “You still refuse to admit defeat?”

“I haven’t lost… Cough, cough,” Xiang Nan said emotionally, followed by a severe bout of coughing that echoed through the entire field: “Cough, cough… I’m sure I can beat you… definitely can beat.”

Seeing Xiang Nan in a state as if he could collapse at any moment, Shao Zifeng felt somewhat of a headache.

How did it turn out like he was the villain?

These people were not called by him, and besides, he was the one who had been sneak-attacked.

To tell the truth, Shao Zifeng didn’t quite understand why Xiang Nan was so obsessed with defeating him, to the point of sacrificing his reputation to do so.

Listening to the somewhat sharp insults coming from the darkness, Shao Zifeng couldn’t help but ask, “Is it worth it?”

“Worth it…” Xiang Nan, on the verge of fainting, forced his eyelids up: “You ask me if it’s worth it…”

At this point, he suddenly looked toward the camera, his entire being roaring like a helpless trapped beast: “I want to ask if it’s worth it too!”

“Why does the honor of the university require my sacrifice to uphold?”

“I’ve trained hard for so many years, dreaming of standing on the national competition stage; why do you treat me as a disposable pawn?”

“I know you can see this!”

“Tell me!!”

As if a sore spot had been hit, Xiang Nan, who had just been shouting about defeating Shao Zifeng, suddenly broke down.

Tears mixed with the blood kept sliding down his face, his red eyes preventing himself from crying aloud.

Only, no one was there to give him an answer.

After a while, Xiang Nan’s emotions slowly stabilized, and he reached out to grab the dagger beside him, trembling as he pointed it at Shao Zifeng.

“So, by defeating you in front of everyone… I want to prove that I can.”

“Because I won’t have a chance at the next National Competition.”

Shao Zifeng looked into Xiang Nan’s eyes earnestly, and after confirming that these were his true thoughts, he felt somewhat helpless.

Previously, using the Deceiver’s Ring to confuse the Resentful Spirit was a punishment for Xiang Nan harboring malice towards him.

But after understanding the reason, Shao Zifeng found himself actually admiring him.

Although he couldn’t empathize with Xiang Nan’s hard training due to his own mutant creatures being too outstanding.

This type of person was the most troublesome, too fixated on their principles.

If you don’t fight him, he says you look down on him.

If you do fight him, he can’t win.

The obsession with participating in the National Competition was just like his…

Huh, obsession?

Chewing on this word, Shao Zifeng suddenly had a bold idea.

He looked at Xiang Nan calmly, shaking his head slightly.

“You’re too obsessed.”

“So obsessed that you want to prove yourself with strength; however, beating me is not the best solution to your problem.”

Xiang Nan was slightly taken aback by the words but still pointed the dagger at Shao Zifeng.

“You’re actually pretty strong, but that captain of yours isn’t much.”

“I…”

Faced with Shao Zifeng’s sudden approval, Xiang Nan was a bit at a loss.

“As the team captain, the most basic thing is to know how to use people wisely. Real-world combat is your strength, and it won’t be compromised by exposing your ability.”

“You have to know, not everyone is as strong as me. Your role isn’t just in real-world combat; as long as you’re provided the right opportunity, for most competitors, you’re a nightmarish existence.”

As he spoke, Shao “Shameless” Zifeng sighed with a hint of regret, as if feeling injustice on behalf of Xiang Nan.

“To be honest, your captain really doesn’t do you justice.”

“I… you… do you really think so?” Xiang Nan’s eyes slowly lit up, and he stuttered a bit as he spoke.

Ever since he joined the university team, due to the special nature of his mutant creatures, he rarely had the opportunity to participate in the team’s internal training. He had even less of a presence in tactical pairing.

Thus, from the beginning, his role was to deal with the low-probability real-world combat matches.

Shao Zifeng’s words of encouragement ignited a small flame in Xiang Nan’s heart.

Seeing the moment was right, Shao Zifeng slowly crouched down to eye level with Xiang Nan.

He wore a warm smile on his face and, after pushing away the dagger in Xiang Nan’s hand, reached out his right hand.

“Let me introduce myself again, my name is Shao Zifeng, the captain of Su City University’s team from the Yundu Region in Su City.”

“Not to hide it from you, our team is missing one person, and I believe that with your addition, we will definitely stand together on the podium of the National Competition.”

“I consider myself to be a decent captain. If you trust me, give me a chance, and also give yourself a chance.”

“Of course, the choice is in your hands.”

After saying this, Shao Zifeng looked at the bewildered Xiang Nan with a smile.

“Sss!”

Watching this scene, everyone was shocked.

What the hell was this? On Bin City University’s turf, in front of so many of their students, to poach someone right from under their nose.

It was quite thrilling.

In the live stream, the onlookers who loved a good show covered the screen with a flood of “666”.

“Shameless!!”

Inside Bin City University’s training room, Captain Lin Jun watched the two on the screen with a scowl on his face.

The others exchanged glances, not sure what to say.

“Your team leader is quite interesting.”

At Su City University training grounds, Li Yiren’s eyes curved into crescents.

“Hehe, Big Brother Shao is very reliable. It was him who gave me the courage to stand up.” Li Yiming looked at Shao Zifeng on the screen, seemingly recalling the figure standing in front of a blaze in that dark alley, his face filled with reminiscence.

Li Yiren:…

I always feel like they’re not on the same wavelength.

Shao Zifeng was still waiting for Xiang Nan’s answer, while internally he gave himself a pat on the back.

This was a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy, not only dissolving Xiang Nan’s intent to fight to the death with him but also recruiting a strong player to their team.

Let’s not mention the fact that Xiang Nan is truly a bug in the reality combat game.

If they could get a few ghost-type mutant creatures before the official competition, a group battle with the talent of Grudge Shaman could be outrageously effective.

Of course, the key point was that their team was indeed short of people.

As for transferring schools, that was even less of an issue. Schools had no right to interfere with the will of the students.

“I-I…”

Xiang Nan was a bit dazed from excessive blood loss, and now he was even more confused.

Seeing this, Shao Zifeng decided to give him a hand once more.

He raised his right hand slightly, the pupils of his eyes flickering with a green light: “You want to stand on the national competition stage, don’t you? As long as you trust me, I can help you.”

Xiang Nan’s gaze drifted to Shao Zifeng’s hand, the dark ring seeming to possess an immense allure.

He almost felt as if he could already see himself standing on the highest podium at the national competition, the cheers of the crowd like waves washing over him.

I really want to agree to him.

Thinking this, under everyone’s gaze, Xiang Nan’s hand slowly lifted.

The smile on Shao Zifeng’s lips grew even wider.

Just then, the loudspeaker suddenly crackled with static.

“Cough cough, Student Shao, is the match over?”

Clap!

As soon as these words were out, the floodlights above the arena suddenly lit up.

The dazzling light made Xiang Nan instinctively cover his eyes, but Shao Zifeng was quick to grasp his hand.

After doing all this, he stood up with Xiang Nan and turned to look.

They saw several middle-aged men on the high platform of the spectator stands staring dumbfounded at this scene.

Chu Fei’s facial muscles twitched slightly.

Wasn’t it about letting him make his own choice?

…

In the principal’s office of Bin City University, Han Jiugong and Shao Zifeng were sitting across from each other.

Now, it was just the two of them in the spacious office.

Chu Fei was very angry about the incident, hurriedly brought both of them to the office, then left. It seemed the university team might not have an easy time in the following days.

“Little Shao, how come you didn’t look for me when you arrived in Bin City?”

The mayor of Han City was amiable, smiling like the friendly uncle next door.

“Mayor Han…”

Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

Just then, Shao Zifeng’s phone suddenly rang. He apologetically looked at Han Jiugong.

Han Jiugong waved his hand: “Don’t worry about it, you take the call.”

Shao Zifeng stood up and walked to the window, hesitating for a moment before answering the call from the unfamiliar number.

“Hello, yes.”

“Hello, is this Shao Zifeng? I’m calling from Explosive Energy Pet Fitness Equipment Co. We would like to invite your pet creature to endorse our new product, if…”

Thinking it was a sales call, Shao Zifeng interrupted before the other party could finish.

“Sorry, I don’t need it.”

After hanging up, Shao Zifeng suddenly came to his senses.

What the hell?

An endorsement?

They want his pet to endorse fitness equipment?

Ring ring.

Before he could make sense of the situation, the phone rang again.

“Hello, may I speak to Mr. Shao? We’re from White Eagle Aolikang Biotechnology Company, dedicated to mutant creature genetic research. If you could cooperate with us, we’d definitely offer you the most satisfactory compensation.”

“Mr. Shao, are you listening?”

“Which company did you say?”

“White Eagle Aolikang Biotechnology Company, our main area of research is…”

Click!

After hanging up, Shao Zifeng stared at his phone.

After two calls in a row, Shao Zifeng became somewhat unsettled.

He was oblivious to the livestream event, and he didn’t know that the appearance of a dragon-like mutant creature, suspected to be an ancient one, had caused such a stir online. Now countless research institutions were frantically looking for Shao Zifeng to seek collaboration, be it domestic or international.

Ring ring.

Not long after hanging up, the phone rang again. Shao Zifeng looked at the unfamiliar number and turned his phone off.

Han Jiugong asked curiously, “Telemarketing calls?”

Shao Zifeng hesitated for a moment and then nodded reluctantly.

“Haha,” Han Jiugong laughed with schadenfreude, “Little Shao, you haven’t gone for verification, have you?”

“Verification?” Shao Zifeng looked at Han Jiugong, puzzled.

“Look at my memory,” Han Jiugong explained while tapping his forehead, “You probably are not aware since you just got back, but your file is ‘highly confidential’. Just call the telecom company, provide them with some basic information, and after they confirm, they will encrypt your phone number. Then except for those numbers you grant permission to, no one else can get through.”

“My file is highly confidential?”

Hearing Han Jiugong’s explanation, Shao Zifeng became even more confused.

“Yes,” Han Jiugong said with a sigh, “It’s the country’s way of protecting you, and it’s also one of your rewards. As for the rest, someone will probably contact you when you get back home, so I’ll say no more.”

Is that so.

Shao Zifeng suddenly felt relieved.

He had thought his intelligence wasn’t taken seriously, but it turned out that the higher-ups were paying close attention and had even discreetly granted him high-level confidentiality.

This made Shao Zifeng suddenly look forward to the subsequent rewards.

“Anyway, let’s not talk about that now.” Han Jiugong motioned for Shao Zifeng to sit down, “When are you planning to go back, Little Shao?”

After sitting down again, Shao Zifeng thought for a moment, “Tomorrow, I guess. I haven’t been home in a while and I’m planning to go home to check on things.”

Han Jiugong pondered for a moment before speaking, “In that case, do me a favor, don’t stay in the room you booked before. Of course, don’t cancel it either; I will arrange for you to have a new room at the municipal government’s guesthouse.”

“This…”

Shao Zifeng was a bit puzzled.

“You kid, after all those calls and you still don’t understand.”

“The competition was livestreamed. You should realize how rare ancient creatures are by now, and currently, who knows how many forces have got their eyes on you.”

“Setting that aside for now, our local powers here in Bin City will definitely not play nice.” Han Jiugong’s tone lost its amiability, becoming decisive and stern, “If they dare to make a move, I might as well take this opportunity to clean the waters of Bin City once and for all.”

“What do I need to do?”

Han Jiugong said with a smile, “You don’t have to do anything. Just go to sleep and it will all be over.”

(PS: Just to update everyone, my mother has developed a bone spur and is in so much pain that she can hardly do anything. Aside from taking over cooking and other household chores, I have to care for her, even washing and wiping her feet. So, this has taken up a lot of my time. Apologies.)