CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 140: BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Chu Yunyi realized that Li Xing’s way of addressing him depended on Lin Caier. When Lin Caier was present, he was the sweet and charming Brother Chu. When she wasn’t, he was the formal Captain Chu.

"Are there other flavors?"

"Yes, yes! There are ridge beef, henggong fish, and giant horn deer flavors. Each has its own unique taste." After speaking, Li Xing generously offered three kinds of jerky for Chu Yunyi to sample.

Chen Qi, Pei Nan, and the others stared eagerly in his direction, their gazes were so intense it was like they were about to write "want to eat" on their faces. Li Xing simply gave each person a little share.

When it was Lin Caier’s turn, Li Xing gave a shy smile: "Unfortunately, the sample packs are all gone. Sister Lin, I’ll bring you some next time!"

Lin Caier: ...You are targeting me! [○･｀Д´･○]

Chu Yunyi found each flavor unique and precisely suited to his taste buds.

"Not bad. I’ll take five pounds of each."

Chen Qi, Bai Ling, Pei Nan, and others also placed orders one after another, while only Jiang Yuesheng, An Qing, and Lin Caier, who didn’t get to taste the sample packs, looked upset and out of place with everyone else.

Li Xing quickly added friends to transfer money, tinkered with the space button, and settled the jerky for everyone.

Chu Yunyi calmly tucked away the space button, acting as if nothing had happened, and continued to wave and smile at the enthusiastic audience.

Jiang Yuesheng and An Qing looked at each other, is this still the Yunyi they knew?

As children of noble families, they were particularly cautious about what they ate, and Chu Yunyi was among the best at it, never touching anything dubious, so why did he make an exception today?

But they hadn’t said anything, why were they targeted too?

They also wanted to taste the jerky that Yunyi praised! How unfair.

——————

The long and noisy revelry eventually ended, and the participants left in an orderly fashion under the event organizers’ arrangements.

As soon as they walked out of the square, the waiting media rushed over, wielding all sorts of cameras, wanting to shoot right up close.

The other three teams skillfully squeezed through the crowd and boarded flying devices to leave the scene. Only the Harssas delegation, experiencing media frenzy for the first time, clearly lacked experience and failed to make a timely breakout.

Today, Wendao was in a good mood and rarely spoke to the enthusiastic media reporters:

"Dear reporter friends, thank you very much for your attention to Harssas Academy. Please don’t rush; we stayed specially to answer your questions!"

Luo Jun silently rolled his eyes; clearly, they hadn’t escaped, but he made it sound like they stayed on purpose—this old trickster.

The media reporters were delighted and began to ask questions in a cacophony of voices, making it impossible to hear anything clearly.

Wendao gestured downward with his hand and shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, please ask one question at a time."

A female reporter shoved the mic directly towards Qi Ming’s face:

"Qi Ming, ever since Master Qi Lang’s disappearance, the Qi Family hasn’t produced any talisman masters above Earth Rank. Some say the once glorious talisman family has declined. You, as the Qi Clan’s most talented young member today, have inherited Master Qi Lang’s Ancient Array with a remarkable performance in the competition. Do you have the confidence to lead the Qi Clan back to the peak ranks of talisman families?"

Qi Ming nodded vigorously, not because he didn’t want to speak, but because the mic was so close he feared it would end up in his mouth if he opened it.

"Ye Qingting, your match against Jiang Yuesheng was exciting. What is your assessment of his abilities? Compared to before, have his martial arts regressed?"

Ye Qingting thought for a moment and said:

"I’ve known Brother Jiang since I was young. He has offered targeted advice on my martial arts multiple times. My achievements today are thanks to Brother Jiang’s guidance. Brother Jiang’s abilities are unquestionable; one misstep doesn’t mean anything. I believe in the next match, Brother Jiang will surely perform to his rightful level!"

Cui Tianxiao pouted. If bullying counts as guidance, then Jiang Yuesheng indeed helped the two plenty. They don’t just point out; they often criticize too.

"Li Xing, as the biggest dark horse of this match, major media have given you extensive coverage, and netizens have voluntarily formed your fan club. You are now an internet celebrity! Do you have anything you’d like to say to the Star Fans?"

"Eh?"

Li Xing never imagined he would one day become an internet celebrity. But how could he miss this golden opportunity? Li Xing cleared his throat and said:

"Star Fans still in school, feel welcome to apply to Harssas Academy! Our school has a long history with many renowned teachers. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you can become outstanding students like us!"

Wendao, his old face smiling like a chrysanthemum, was most pleased with this treasure, Li Xing, for knowing to give back and advertise the school to attract talent.

"Graduated Star Fans, you are welcome to visit the shop at No. 9 Changan Street! Authentic products, fair trade, post three colorful ’Support Anti-Rivals Team’ comments during live broadcasts and enjoy a 5% discount on purchases during the event!"

"Cui Tianxiao, your ’Heavenly Court CP’ with Ye Qingting has surpassed Chu Yunyi and Lin Caier’s ’Cloudy CP,’ becoming the sweetest combo of this competition. What’s your response to this?"

"Uh, what?"

Cui Tianxiao’s peach blossom eyes widened; why is his question so absurd? What’s with Heavenly Court CP? Pairing him and his brother up as CP: he has no thought on this!

"You might not know, but there’s already a fan-made, pure-love comic featuring you and Ye Qingting, and although the art style is restricted, the subscription rate is pretty decent!"

Cui Tianxiao was furious: "What the heck——" before he could finish, Wendao held him down, stopping him from spewing vulgarity and said loudly:

"Alright, alright, our players are already very tired and need to rest. Today’s interview will end here. Shortly, I will arrange for Harssas’s spokesperson to hold a press conference to answer your questions specifically."

With that, Luo Jun and a group of teachers forced the crowd apart and escorted the Harssas elite team onto the flying device to leave the city square.

"Principal, should we go to the Teleportation Port?"

Wendao leisurely crossed his legs and replied, "No, let’s return to Tianyi Institute."

Luo Jun: "Huh?"

"Huh what! I accepted Chu Yu’s invitation to attend tomorrow’s banquet, and you all are invited too! Anyway, Tianyi Institute’s accommodation is comfortable, and it doesn’t cost anything. Let’s stay a few more days. Haha!"

Everyone asked in unison, "What banquet?"

Wendao seemed a bit embarrassed, hemmed for a while before speaking:

"Every time the military school competition concludes, Tianyi City hosts the event, and the Chu Family, being the most distinguished noble family there, hosts a grand banquet in celebration. They invite all participating teams and event staff to attend."

Zhou Song scratched his head: "We are not new to competing, why have we never heard of this banquet?"

Wendao scratched his face and said, "The banquet began after Chu Yu became the Family Head. It’s been going on for about twenty years. Every year, they send me an invitation, but since Harssas didn’t perform well, consistently coming last, I didn’t want to go and face anyone, so I never went, nor did I need to tell you all."

The group felt enlightened, but Wendao’s rationale was understandable. Given the way the city’s elite favors the successful, they wouldn’t be welcomed kindly and might as well head home early.

"But now, it’s different! Thanks to the ’Anti-Rivals Team,’ Harssas Academy is rising! This year, we must make an appearance at the banquet!"

Everyone nodded in agreement: "Absolutely——!"

Wendao remembered Yuan Kai’s furious yet helpless expression and felt all 36,000 pores on his body relax.

After enduring years of frustration, he finally had his chance to shine. How could he not wander around Yuan Kai to annoy him? Making Yuan Kai uncomfortable became Wendao’s top priority.

The flying device roared towards Tianyi Institute.