A Bet

Meanwhile, Lin Hao was enjoying a lavish meal with the three women. Watching Lin Xiaorou eat until her cheeks puffed out and her little face was smeared with grease, Lin Hao picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth.

"Xiao Hao, looks like you've been doing pretty well at school these past six months," Lin Yueyue spoke up. She had noticed how Jiang Weiwei and the other teachers and students treated Lin Hao, which had surprised her a bit.

"Heh, Aunt, it's just normal interactions," Lin Hao replied with a smile.

Seeing that Lin Hao didn't want to elaborate, Lin Yueyue dropped the subject. Meanwhile, Fang Yao was burning with curiosity. "Idiot, are you going to compete tomorrow?" In truth, she was worried. Any team that made it to the finals was no pushover. A contestant with only an E-class talent like Lin Hao would be walking into a den of wolves.

Sensing her concern, Lin Hao gave her a reassuring look. "Remember the surprise I told you about?"

Fang Yao froze for a moment, then recalled that before they parted, Lin Hao had said he'd give her a surprise when they met at the Hundred Schools League. She nodded. "I remember. But what kind of surprise?"

Lin Hao smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out tomorrow."

"Is big brother going to compete tomorrow?" Lin Xiaorou's belly was now round and full, clearly unable to eat another bite.

"I will! Make sure to cheer for me then," Lin Hao said, affectionately ruffling her hair.

Lin Xiaorou immediately cheered. "Okay! Tomorrow I'll cheer for you with Aunt and Sister Yao."

"Aunt and Xiaorou will be sitting with me, so don't worry. I've already arranged the accommodations," Fang Yao chimed in at the right moment.

"Thanks," Lin Hao said, a warmth spreading through his chest. Ever since high school, Fang Yao had taken meticulous care of him. Even when he awakened that garbage E-class talent, she hadn't looked down on him—instead, she pulled strings to get him into Shancheng Martial University. He saw it all and remembered it all.

"Alright, we're about done eating. I'll take Xiaorou back to the hotel to rest. You two go take a walk," Lin Yueyue said, noticing the look in their eyes about to turn syrupy. She didn't want to be stuffed with dog food after a full meal.

After parting ways with Lin Yueyue and Lin Xiaorou, Lin Hao and Fang Yao strolled by the hotel's lakeside for a while. Fang Yao told him she'd send someone to pick up Lin Yueyue and Lin Xiaorou tomorrow, so he could rest easy.

Around ten in the evening, Lin Hao returned to his dorm. At Modu Martial University, the dorms were set up for two people per room. Under Mo Zixuan's insistence, he and Lin Hao ended up as roommates. Seeing Lin Hao come back, Mo Zixuan bounced up from his bed. "Bro Lin, you're back."

Noticing Mo Zixuan's ingratiating expression, Lin Hao was puzzled. "Uh, Bro Lin, can I be the first to go on stage tomorrow?" At the question, Lin Hao understood. "We'll see who our opponent is. There's the opening ceremony and the draw tomorrow. If Shancheng Martial University draws a weak opponent, we'll stick to the usual plan—I'll be the anchor. If we draw a top-tier martial university, I'll go first. Otherwise, you guys might get hurt."

Hearing Lin Hao's assurance, Mo Zixuan agreed readily. "Thanks, Bro Lin."

"Hey, Bro Lin, does your sister have a boyfriend?" Mo Zixuan scratched his head sheepishly.

At the question, Lin Hao's face darkened. He kicked Mo Zixuan in the ass. "Get the hell out of here. My sister's only six!"

The next morning after breakfast, Lin Hao and the others followed Jiang Weiwei to the competition venue at Modu Martial University. As a long-established top-tier martial university, Modu had set up the venue in its largest training ground. The entire arena was built from high-grade adamantine, impervious even to the attacks of Gold-rank martial artists. Surrounding the arena were spectator stands capable of holding fifty thousand people.

With official promotion, tickets for this year's Hundred Schools League had long since sold out. Already, many spectators were seated in the stands, waiting for the competition to begin. Facing the stands were the judges' seats, the press section, and the VIP section. Journalists from various broadcasting stations had already set up their cameras and microphones, ready for the start.

This year's judges for the Hundred Schools League were Jiang Tianhai, Commander-in-Chief of the Western Military Region, and Fang Wei, Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Military Region. The presence of the two Gods of War added immense prestige to the event. In the VIP section sat the heads of various major families, their purpose being to scout and recruit any prodigies for their clans. Fang Yao, Lin Yueyue, and Lin Xiaorou had been arranged to sit in the VIP section.

"Old Fang, which martial university do you think will take the championship this year?" Jiang Tianhai asked, looking at Fang Wei with a fox-like grin.

Fang Wei pondered for a moment. "Hard to say. I've looked over the contestant profiles from the universities that made it to the finals. Duan Yue from Longcheng Martial University and Mo Yu from Modu Martial University are both once-in-a-century talents. I'd guess the champion will come from one of those two."

"Haha, Old Fang, this year's Hundred Schools League might have an unexpected surprise," Jiang Tianhai said, bursting into laughter.

Fang Wei shot him a strange look. "Old Jiang, I recall you usually don't care about these small-scale affairs. Why did you volunteer with Lord Han Feng to be a judge this year?"

At the question, Jiang Tianhai played coy. "I won't tell you yet, Old Fang. Among these kids this year, there's one remarkable existence. You'll see when the time comes." Fang Wei's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Then I'll have to keep a close eye on things."

Jiang Tianhai, feeling playful, added, "Old Fang, how about we make a bet? We'll bet on which martial university wins this year's championship." Fang Wei perked up. "What are the terms?"

"I'll give you three choices. You can pick three universities out of the sixteen. If any one of them wins, you win. If a university outside your picks wins, I win. What do you think?"

"Haha, Old Jiang, you seem to have quite a bit of faith in that kid you mentioned. Fine, I'll pick Longcheng Martial University, Modu Martial University, and Qingzhou Martial University. I've heard their prodigies this year are already at Gold-rank strength. And they're all top-tier, long-established universities that produce geniuses."

"Alright, Old Fang, here's the stake. If I win, you can't recruit the champion contestant to your side. If you win, I won't. Deal?"

"Deal. Looks like the Eastern Military Region will be taking in a lot of talent this year." And so, their bet was set.

Meanwhile, in the preparation area, the principals, team leaders, and contestants from the sixteen martial universities had already taken their seats, waiting for the opening ceremony to begin.

In the VIP section, Lin Xiaorou sat with a giant lollipop in her hand, next to Lin Yueyue and Fang Yao. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Sister Yao, I see big brother!" She pointed a little finger at Lin Hao in the preparation area. Today, like the other martial university students and faculty, Lin Hao wore a school uniform, quietly waiting for the competition to start.