A Wager

Lin Hao was enjoying a lavish meal with the three women. Watching Xiao Rou's cheeks puff out as she ate, her little face smeared with grease, he picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth.

"Xiao Hao, looks like you've been doing pretty well at school these past six months." Lin Yueyue had seen how Jiang Weiwei and the other teachers and students treated Lin Hao, and it had surprised her a little.

"Heh heh, Auntie, we just get along normally," Lin Hao replied with a smile.

Seeing that Lin Hao didn't want to say more, Lin Yueyue stopped asking. Fang Yao was curious too. "Dummy, are you going to compete tomorrow?" She was still rather worried. The teams that had made it to the finals were no ordinary opponents. Lin Hao had only an E-class talent, and if he took the field, he'd be in grave danger.

Noticing Fang Yao's concern, Lin Hao gave her a reassuring look. "Remember the surprise I told you about?"

Fang Yao was startled, then remembered that before they parted, Lin Hao had said he'd have a surprise for her when they met at the Hundred Schools League. She nodded. "I remember. But what is the surprise?"

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

"Will Big Brother compete tomorrow?" Xiao Rou's belly was bulging from all the food, and she clearly couldn't eat another bite.

"I will! You'll have to cheer me on," Lin Hao said, affectionately ruffling Xiao Rou's hair.

Lin Xiaorou cheered at once. "Okay! Auntie and Sister Yao and I will cheer for you tomorrow."

"Auntie and Xiao Rou will be sitting with me, so don't worry. I've already arranged a place for them to stay, too," Fang Yao added.

"Thank you." Lin Hao felt warmth in his heart. Ever since high school, Fang Yao had looked after him in every way. When he awakened a useless E-class talent, she hadn't looked down on him. Instead, she'd pulled strings and asked favors to get him recommended to Shancheng Martial University. Lin Hao had seen it all and kept it in his heart.

"All right, we've eaten enough. I'll take Xiao Rou back to the hotel to rest in a bit. You two go for a walk," Lin Yueyue said, seeing the look between them grow sappy again. She didn't want to get stuffed with public displays of affection after a full meal.

After saying goodbye to Lin Yueyue and Xiao Rou, Lin Hao and Fang Yao strolled beside the hotel lake for a while. Fang Yao told him she'd send someone to pick up Lin Yueyue and Xiao Rou tomorrow, and told him not to worry.

Around ten that evening, Lin Hao returned to his dorm. The dorm rooms at Modu Martial University were all shared by two students, and Mo Zixuan had insisted so strongly that he and Lin Hao were assigned to the same room. The moment he saw Lin Hao come back, Mo Zixuan sprang up from his bed. "Brother Lin, you're back!"

Seeing Mo Zixuan's ingratiating expression, Lin Hao was baffled. "Um, Brother Lin, can I be the first to compete tomorrow?" Hearing the question, Lin Hao understood. "Let's see who we draw tomorrow. There'll be an opening ceremony and a draw. We'll see who Shancheng Martial University gets. If our opponent isn't strong, we'll stick to the usual plan, and I'll hold the line. If we draw a top-tier university, I'll go straight out. Otherwise, you guys could get hurt."

Hearing Lin Hao's promise, Mo Zixuan readily agreed. "Thanks, Brother Lin."

"Um, Brother Lin, does your little sister have a boyfriend?" Mo Zixuan scratched his head sheepishly.

At the question, Lin Hao's face darkened. He kicked Mo Zixuan in the butt. "Get lost! My little sister's only six!"

After breakfast the next morning, Lin Hao and the others followed Jiang Weiwei to the competition venue at Modu Martial University. As an established top-tier martial university, Modu Martial University had set the event in its largest Training Ground. The entire arena was built from high-grade steelstone; even the might of a Gold-rank martial artist couldn't damage it in the slightest. Around it stood spectator stands that could hold fifty thousand people.

Thanks to the official publicity, tickets for the Hundred Schools League had long since sold out. By now, plenty of spectators had taken their seats, waiting for the competition to begin. Facing the stands were the judges' seats, the press section, and the VIP seats. Reporters from the various television stations broadcasting the event had already set up their cameras, waiting for the competition to start.

The judges for this year's 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 God of War figures lent the event extra prestige. The VIP seats were filled with Family Heads from the great lineages. They had come to see if they could recruit any gifted young talents into their families. Fang Yao, Lin Yueyue, and Lin Xiaorou had also been seated in the VIP section.

"Old Fang, which martial university do you think will win the championship this year?" Jiang Tianhai asked, eyeing Fang Wei with the cunning look of an old fox.

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

"Hahaha, Old Fang, this year's Hundred Schools League might bring an unexpected surprise!" Jiang Tianhai burst into laughter.

Fang Wei gave Jiang Tianhai an odd look, then asked, "Old Jiang, I remember you usually don't bother with these little contests. Why did you volunteer to be a judge this year with Lord Han Feng?"

Jiang Tianhai kept him in suspense. "I won't tell you yet, Old Fang. There's an extraordinary kid among this year's contestants. You'll see when the time comes." Fang Wei grew curious too. "Oh? Then I'll be sure to keep a close eye out."

Jiang Tianhai was in a playful mood now. "Old Fang, how about we make a wager? We'll bet on which martial university wins this year's Hundred Schools League."

Fang Wei was interested as well. "What are the terms?"

"I'll give you three choices. Pick any three of the sixteen martial universities. If one of them wins the championship, you win. If the champion comes from any other university, I win. How does that sound?"

"Hahaha, Old Jiang, you must be pretty confident in that kid you mentioned. All right, I'll pick Longcheng Martial University, Modu Martial University, and Qingzhou Martial University. I hear the talented students at all three universities have already reached Gold rank this year. They're also talents trained by established top-tier martial universities."

"Fine, Old Fang. Here's the stake. If I win, you can't recruit the champion to your side. If you win, I won't recruit them either. How about it?"

"Deal. Looks like the Eastern Military Region will be bringing in plenty of talent this year." And so their wager was made.

Meanwhile, the principals, team coaches, and contestants from all sixteen martial universities had taken their seats in the competitors' area, waiting for the opening ceremony to begin.

In the VIP section, Lin Xiaorou sat with Lin Yueyue and Fang Yao, holding a huge lollipop. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Sister Yao, I see Big Brother!" She pointed toward Lin Hao, who was in the competitors' seating area. Like the other students and teachers from the martial universities, Lin Hao was dressed in his school uniform, quietly waiting for the competition to begin.