Everyone Is the Protagonist

Murong Qing took a strand of hair from each side of Hongdou's hair, combed it back, and then put on a silver-white butterfly headband to tie it up, making her look a bit like a little princess from a Western country.

Hongdou looked at herself in the mirror and said, "Hmm, I look really good."

Are you praising yourself, or praising my cooking skills?

"Yes, I have everything." Hongdou didn't stand on ceremony.

Murong Qing smiled slightly, looked up at the two people in the mirror, and sighed, "Looking back, especially that time I came to your door to argue, I never imagined that one day we would end up like this."

Hongdou clasped her hands together and said, "But at that time, I wanted to become good friends with the class monitor because the class monitor was very serious about everything he did, and I like serious people."

"So that's how unfortunate I am, having been entangled with you ever since."

At that moment, a subtle thought suddenly flashed through her mind. The more Murong Qing thought about it, the more interesting it became, and she couldn't help but laugh.

Hongdou asked curiously, "What interesting things is the class monitor thinking about? Tell me about them!"

Murong Qing deliberately drew out an "Mmm," whetting the other's appetite before leisurely saying, "I lost to you in painting, but I successfully turned the tables on you when it comes to men. I beat you to the punch by winning over Si Ming, so I guess I should be the winner."

Hongdou was stunned for a moment, then puffed out her cheeks angrily and said, "The class monitor went too far! How could he brag about his victory right in front of us? I'm not friends with you anymore!"

Murong Qing suppressed her laughter and didn't rush to comfort him. She never used the method of comforting children when they cried. Instead, she taught them through fun. In her opinion, everyone can be reasoned with, including children, but you must pay attention to the way you speak. Don't talk about adult principles; you should talk about children's principles. She had already honed her skills in this regard by talking to her own younger brother.

Sure enough, after presenting the facts, reasoning with her, and reminiscing about past hardships, Hongdou quickly reconciled with her.

"Have you guys not finished combing your hair yet? This is taking way too long!"

Si Ming knocked on the door and came in.

Murong Qing lectured, "Girls definitely spend a lot of time getting ready. You'll be in a relationship someday, so stop saying things that only single men say."

Si Ming was too embarrassed to say it. He was worried about what would happen if the two of them started fighting. After all, they had met as opponents for the first time, and after all this time, they were still opponents, just in a different way.

Although Hongdou has a higher cultivation level, Murong Qing has more experience. If it were Murong Qing before advancing to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, she might be helpless against Hongdou and could only wait for a miracle to happen to win. However, after advancing to the Nascent Spirit Transformation, she has a chance to win, and her rich combat experience allows her to infinitely expand this possibility.

"You still haven't told me what I need to do for you?" Si Ming quickly changed the subject.

"I almost forgot."

Murong Qing took out a photo and placed it on the table, saying, "This is a wanted Class A criminal who has fled to our area. His cultivation level is not weak; even ordinary Mohist Knight Guard are helpless against him. Therefore, I plan to take action and bring him to justice."

Si Ming picked up the photo. The photo showed a middle-aged man with a baby face, soft features, and a refined demeanor. It was hard to associate him with a Class A criminal.

"How many people did he kill?" A Class A criminal must have blood on his hands, so Si Ming didn't ask what crime he had committed.

"Thirty-six people," Murong paused, then added, "This guy was actually a pitiful man. His wife was drugged and abused by a playboy from the Aristocratic Clan. Although he reported it to the police and the playboy was arrested and sentenced, during the trial, the other party used his connections to smear his wife, portraying her as a promiscuous woman who actively seduced men. Although these rumors did not influence the judge, and she was sentenced to six years in prison according to the law, this innocent wife's reputation was completely ruined. She was insulted and ridiculed by many people, and finally suffered a mental breakdown, driven to the point of committing suicide by cutting her wrists."

In this era without the internet and with underdeveloped mobile communication, the situation of public opinion violence is somewhat better. There is no need to worry about being harassed by text messages and phone calls. However, this improvement only applies to situations of "animal abuse" and "immoral behavior in public places." No one will travel thousands of miles to send wreaths. If it is a matter of great importance such as reputation, even neighbors will view it with prejudice.

Si Ming: "Then this man avenged his wife by killing the enemy's entire family?"

"At that time, his Internal Cultivation was only at level six, and he did not have such ability. So he still sought legal help, wanting to extend the criminal's sentence. However, this was not feasible in law. If his wife had died before the trial, the sentence could have been increased, but since the trial had already ended, the result could not be changed."

After receiving the court's reply, the man disappeared without a trace, and even his family never saw him again. Six years later, on the day the spoiled brat was released from prison, the man suddenly reappeared and, with the strength of a top-tier martial arts master, wiped out his entire family.

Si Ming frowned and said, "Seeking revenge for his wife is understandable, but if he turns himself in, the judge will be lenient and he won't even get life imprisonment. There's no need for him to be a fugitive."

In Si Ming's previous life, such a massacre would have been so egregious that even if the perpetrators had mitigating circumstances, they would not have been spared. However, in the Sea Continent, where there is still a spirit of chivalry, people would show some mercy. It is even possible that a person might be nominally sentenced to death but actually recruited into the Shadow Hero Guard under a different name, in exchange for a lifetime of service to the country and a chance to live.

Murong Qing said, "In addition to killing the Dandy's family, this man also killed all the people who had insulted his wife."

Si Ming was speechless. Although these people were also indirect murderers, they did not deserve to die. Killing them would not be able to mitigate their crimes with the excuse of "excusable circumstances." If they were caught, they would only face death. The Shadow Hero Guard did not accept just anyone; at least they had to be morally upright.

Si Ming stared at the photo for a while, then asked suspiciously, "I feel like this person's face looks familiar, like he resembles someone. What's his name?"

Qi Yunfei.

"I don't remember him... How do you know he's wandered around here? Has anyone seen him?"

"Yes, the biennial National Martial Arts School Tournament has entered the state-level representative selection stage. One of the matches will be held in our Tange City. The ticket seller saw this person come to buy a ticket, and it was even a VIP seat. I guess he will come to watch the match on the day of the competition."

He's a fugitive, yet he still comes to watch the game; how big is this person's heart?

Si Ming was about to complain, but then he thought about it again. There are many examples on Earth of wanted criminals being arrested on the spot for trying to attend a concert, to the point that a certain singer is known as the "fugitive nemesis." Compared to that, it doesn't seem so strange.

Chapter 737 Everyone is the Protagonist

The National Martial Arts School Tournament, also known as the National Regional Championship Tournament, is similar in format to the National Youth Martial Dao League, with a best-of-five format and seven official members and three substitutes. However, the competition system is completely different. Compared to the elimination system of the National Youth Martial Dao League, it adopts a points system, which is closer to a football league on Earth.

Because of this, the elders of the National Martial Arts School Tournament have repeatedly proposed a name change, arguing that they are the true National Martial Dao League, and the National Youth Martial Dao League should be renamed the National Youth Martial Arts Tournament.

Unfortunately, names are always first-come, first-served. Unless the organizers of the National Youth Martial Dao League agree, no one else can take the name. Compared to commercial Martial Arts School Tournament, the Youth Martial Dao League is still organized by the government, so it doesn't need to give face to anyone.

The Martial Arts School Tournament is divided into state/regional selections and national competitions. The previous year, martial arts schools within a state compete against each other, and the schools with the highest scores participate in the national tournament the following year.

Unlike football league rules, state tournaments are suspended during national tournaments, and the two cannot be held simultaneously. This is because football is about playing the game, and injuries are just a side effect. Martial arts competitions, on the other hand, are about fighting, and injuries are inevitable. If the two were held at the same time, even if each injury is minor, they would accumulate and eventually wear a person down.

In addition, considering that some Little Wu may have difficulty gathering ten participants, the organizing committee also agreed to allow multiple martial arts schools to register for the competition in the form of an alliance.

When Si Ming and his party arrived at the venue, they found it packed with people, red flags waving, and a deafening cacophony of voices.

"There are so many people."

As a college student who stays at home, Hongdou frowned as she looked at the dense crowd. Although she didn't have social anxiety, she had always hated crowded places.

Si Ming, "I told you not to come. Dealing with a wanted criminal who isn't even at the Nascent Spirit Transformation stage, it's already giving him face by having Murong Qing and I work together. Even ordinary Spirit Transformation Grandmaster don't get this treatment, let alone you..."

Murong Qing chimed in, "Perhaps our combat strength will weaken."