Although before coming here, Stelle's Yanqing had already reached a "4+1" configuration, seeing him being so underestimated now still made her feel indignant.
As long as you show some spirit, Yanqing, I won't consider you a waste.
Well, of course, there's no need to prove anything in terms of game stats. No need at all. It's definitely not because he can't compare to others—just that there's no need. Really, no need.
On the martial arts stage, Yanqing raised his iron sword, taking a deep breath. "Respected master, though Yanqing knows his strength is lacking, since I've stepped onto this stage, there's no need for such humiliation. Let our weapons determine the truth."
"Well said! You haven't even fought yet—why act so arrogant?"
"Our Xianzhou kids won't back down at a time like this!"
"If you're not fighting, get off the stage!"
"…"
"Oh no, oh no," Guinaifen muttered, pacing anxiously as the crowd's enthusiastic cheers filled the air. "If he really fights, the medical bills are one thing, but what if something serious happens to him? How am I supposed to explain this to Old Jing…?"
"Little Gui, don't worry. With Yanqing's strength, I believe in him!" Stelle patted Guinaifen's shoulder, brimming with confidence.
Guinaifen's face darkened. "…You've never met Yanqing before, have you?"
Stelle's smile froze. If her guess was correct, there was probably some kind of twist coming.
"If this were the old Yanqing, I'd absolutely cheer him on, but now…" Guinaifen gritted her teeth. "How am I supposed to drag him off that stage?!"
Guinaifen began recounting Yanqing's past to Stelle and Tingyun:
When Yanqing was still young, ever since he could remember, his favorite thing was the sword.
He began practicing swordsmanship at six, determined to become the Sword Champion of the Luofu Cloud Knights. To achieve this goal, he trained diligently day and night, mastering various sword techniques. Combined with his rare martial talent, his swordsmanship progressed rapidly, even approaching the level of renowned sword masters.
But all of that was irrelevant now. Three years ago, something strange happened to Yanqing. His mastery of swordsmanship and his talent for the blade vanished overnight, leaving him labeled a failure in the eyes of others…
"Wait!" Stelle suddenly interrupted, grabbing Guinaifen's shoulders. "Does Yanqing have a ring?"
"Huh? He… probably does? Why?" Guinaifen asked, confused and nervous.
"It's definitely the ring!" Stelle said with conviction. "I bet there's an old grandpa in that ring, secretly draining Yanqing's essence…"
"I've read stories like that, but how could something like a heliobus just randomly latch onto Yanqing? Don't think the world of heliobi ignores science… It's not like that!" Guinaifen rolled her eyes, exasperated, and continued her story:
After suffering such a major setback, Yanqing fell into a slump for a while. It was during this time that he met Guinaifen through her livestream. Back then, her stream had no viewers, and the two gradually became friends…
"Hold on!" Stelle raised her hand again. "Didn't you say this was three years ago? You've been streaming since then and still haven't made it big?"
Duang!
Tingyun gently rubbed Stelle's head, kindly reminding her, "Dear guest, please don't interrupt someone's storytelling with these kinds of questions."
Guinaifen continued:
Perhaps it was the favor of fate that, during a chance conversation, Yanqing was introduced by Guinaifen to the most important person in his life—Old Jing, or Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan believed that talent, whether present or absent, didn't matter. Talent doesn't give you chiseled muscles. Yanqing had only lost his talent—his hands could still wield a sword. What was there to be afraid of?
Yanqing retorted at the time, "You've never stood in my shoes. What right do you have to lecture me like this? If our positions were reversed, could you be so optimistic and open-minded?"
Jing Yuan thought for a moment and said something that made Yanqing scoff at first, then laugh, then ponder, and finally come to a realization.
And that sentence was…
Whoosh—
Suddenly, an iron sword flew from the stage, embedding itself deep into the wall. Yanqing was struck by a staff, tumbling heavily to the edge of the stage, teetering on the brink.
Stelle was furious. Damn you, Skott! Don't interrupt someone like that! People like him really deserved a solid elbow to the face!
"This fight is pointless. You were never my match from the start," Skott said, adjusting his sunglasses with a faint smirk.
Yanqing panted heavily, the pain in his body urging him to give up, but he gritted his teeth, staying silent as he struggled to his feet.
If the outcome is destined to be defeat, does that mean his resistance is meaningless?
…Even fighting for one more second has meaning.
Yanqing charged forward, was knocked down, charged again, and was knocked down again…
"Yanqing's changed, yet he hasn't changed at all…" Stelle murmured under her breath, audible only to herself.
Stelle ground her teeth, feeling a surge of frustration. Damn reality—it's such a cursed thing. It's like an unstoppable freight train, smashing through dreams, hopes, miracles… crushing every obstacle and flattening a person's entire life.
She really wished Yanqing could be like a novel's protagonist, with a ring-bound grandpa possessing him or something.
…
Stelle and Guinaifen helped Yanqing off the stage. Tingyun had thoughtfully called for a physician, who immediately stepped forward to administer emergency treatment as soon as Yanqing was brought down.
Yanqing's consciousness was fading, but he was still muttering, "I should've… gone for his midsection… first…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Stelle's forehead. Now's not the time for memes, okay?!
"No serious injuries, just superficial wounds. His opponent didn't go too hard," the physician concluded after a brief examination.
Guinaifen let out a sigh of relief but quickly asked nervously, "W-Will there be any lasting effects?"
"? I said it's just superficial wounds. Minor injuries. There shouldn't be any."
"What about… scars?"
"…Do you see any blood?"
Guinaifen finally relaxed. "Okay, good, good… Doctor, about the medical fees…?"
The physician didn't even look up. "The Foxian lady over there already covered it. Don't worry."
Guinaifen: 〒▽〒 I'm so touched! I, Little Gui, have wandered half my life without finding a true guide. Now I'd willingly call her my adoptive mother…
Meanwhile, the crowd was still buzzing with discussion. Though most were cursing Skott, their voices had grown slightly quieter.
Skott's skill was undeniable.
After his victory, Skott showed no emotion, standing silently, waiting for Master Bailu to show up.
If she didn't appear after this, he wouldn't need to challenge her further.
Tap, tap, tap…
A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps came from outside the tavern, accompanied by a calm voice:
"Mr. Skott, my name is Bailu. I've come to meet your challenge. Please, enlighten me!"