The Fist

This is it!

Hao Bro pointed to the signboard of Ma's Lamb Restaurant and excitedly told everyone.

"Qi Ji lives right here! Right here!"

"It doesn't look like a habitable place," Daniel said, looking puzzled.

Coach Shasha led his two little followers and the girls to solicit sponsorships and find accommodation, leaving only Xue Ming with two big boys to find teammates.

For a moment, Hao Bro was at a loss and looked hesitantly at the gunsmith teacher.

Xue Ming asked calmly and without any change in expression.

"Did you get the address before you came to meet someone you met online?"

Hao Bro: "It's definitely true! He said he wants to meet in person, so come to this fast food restaurant to find him!"

Xue Ming: "How much do you know about this person?"

"Uh..." Xiao Hao thought for a long time before finally squeezing out a few words: "He's incredibly good at games! His reflexes are lightning fast! And he can type and play at the same time, it totally amazed me!"

Xue Ming: "And then?"

Xiao Hao: "Uh, and another thing! He's really outgoing! He talks a lot in the game!"

Xue Ming: "Anything else?"

Xiao Hao: "Uh, I think I came here without making an appointment with him."

Xue Ming slapped himself across the face, finally giving up on thinking, grabbed Hao Bro's ear and scolded him sternly.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you tell this kid we were going to the Moon God Cup? Didn't you even get his phone number?"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Teacher, it hurts!" Hao Bro's ear was stretched into a goblin-like shape, his face contorted as he kept hissing in pain. "I forgot! I forgot! I was so happy! I just thought, why don't I run to his house first?"

Xue Ming didn't understand. "Is this his house? Do you even know?"

Xiao Hao: "I don't know!"

"Genius." Xue Ming rolled his eyes. To be honest, Xiao Hao reminded him of Meteor Shower when he was young, but A Xing is still young, so this adjective doesn't apply.

It must have been A Xing when he first set off, naive and simple-minded to the point of being a bit silly.

Daniel stood to the side, not daring to speak. He had wanted to say something for Xiao Hao, but after feeling the surging spiritual pressure emanating from the gunsmith teacher, he stood obediently and dared not do anything.

Xue Ming released Xiao Hao's ear and gave instructions to the two students.

"Come in with me."

Hao Bro quickly asked, "What happens after we go in?"

Xue Ming waved his hand, showing no intention of taking off his mask. "I'll handle it."

Thus, the gunsmith, feeling uneasy, found an empty table and sat down with his two young children. When the apprentice came to serve the customer, he ordered three fast food meals without asking any further questions.

Xiao Hao watched anxiously from the side, wanting to ask for information, but was immediately stared at fiercely by Xue Ming, and swallowed all his words.

During this time, Jiang Xueming's brain was working at high speed—

He felt things were getting serious.

Let's talk about Qi Ji first. Hao Bro didn't arrange a time or place with him at all, and just showed up at his door with a bunch of people, making a big fuss.

What if this guy is a telecom fraudster and takes Xiao Hao to some remote mountain village like Myanmar to cut off his kidneys? -- That's what made Xue Ming angry, nothing else.

Like a shooting star, this kid had no sense of crisis at the beginning of his journey. Let's just hope the BOSS's blessing continues to protect this young man.

As for whether Qi Ji could participate in the Moon God Cup, Xue Ming didn't care at all. Although you can't participate in the competition if you don't have five people, there should be quite a few unemployed players looking for teams at the registration location. Adding a stranger at the last minute wouldn't matter. It's all about participation.

Another thing is that Hao Bro really didn't even know if Qi Ji was male or female. It seems he has no experience playing games together online without a microphone—what if she's a girl?

You travel a long way to the girl's apartment building and say to her, "Let's go participate in the World Cup qualifiers!"

It seems that Hao Bro didn't consider Qi Ji's feelings into account. He didn't even consider whether it was possible that Qi Ji was simply not suited for the high-intensity, high-stakes sporting event, the Moon God Cup.

Once all the fast food was served, Xue Ming told the two children to eat first.

He went to the front desk and chatted with the helper, bought a pack of cigarettes, and handed it to the helper. He then followed the clues and asked about Qi Ji. Finally, he preliminarily determined that Qi Ji was not a member of some fraud group, but a tenant who actually lived in the warehouse on the second floor of Ma's Mutton Restaurant.

"Oh! Do you know this kid Qi Ji, sir?" Ma Youguo popped his head out from the kitchen. It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and there weren't many people in the shop. The owner was also quite bored.

"We don't really know each other." Xue Ming then took out a cigarette and offered it to him. "My two young masters know him."

Upon hearing the title "Young Master," Hao Bro suddenly burst out laughing, choking and coughing violently, Barry out grains of rice.

A tiny grain of rice flew into Daniel's bowl, and Daniel immediately looked disgusted. He grabbed Hao Bro's arm, used Hao Bro's rice spoon to scoop up the rice-covered food, and forced it back into Hao Bro's mouth.

Ma Youguo asked with a laugh, "What do you want with this kid? He's sleeping!"

Xue Ming: "Is he taking a nap?"

Ma Youguo: "No, his schedule is rather strange. He goes to sleep at noon and gets up at seven in the evening."

Hao Bro immediately said, "No wonder I can only find him at night! When I'm on vacation, I have to wait until night to ask him to play games!"

Xue Ming: "Is this your daily routine?"

Ma Youguo: "Heh, quite regular."

"I understand," Xue Ming continued. "It's on the second floor, right?"

Ma Youguo: "Yes."

Xue Ming took out two Hui Stone Currency from his pocket, both hundred-yuan bills, and decided to use money to buy time.

"I'd like to go talk to him about something, is that alright?"

Ma Youguo immediately looked troubled. "I'm afraid that won't work, sir. Qi Ji hates being disturbed while he's sleeping."

"I have a way." Xue Ming said as he pulled the ladder down the stairs and climbed to the second floor, turning back to the two students, "Wait for me! I'll be right back."

Within minutes, Xiao Hao saw the gunsmith teacher carrying a teenager downstairs.

In Hao Bro's eyes, he was just a "child".

Qi Ji was so short and thin that the gunsmith teacher had to lift him up and slowly carry him down from the second floor. He was sleeping very soundly, as if he were under the spell of [Fragrant Dream].

Xue Ming used his soul power to make Qi Ji completely fall into a sweet dream, which should shorten the boy's sleep time.

He led the last team member to the dining table and asked Hao Bro a question.

Is it him?

Hao Bro wasn't sure. "I guess so?"

Xue Ming placed Qi Ji in the armchair and said to the two students, "I've taken a quick look, and his elemental composition isn't very good. But..."

"But he's almost fully metamorphosed; he's a psionicist. He came out with his household registration booklet and ID card. He wasn't born in the underground city—he's from Shanghai, and his registered residence is in the JS district."

"I don't know how he got into the underworld, and I don't really care about it."

"Judging from the computer equipment on the second floor, he makes a living by playing games. He doesn't have credit cards, card readers, or fake phone numbers, so he's probably not involved in online gambling."

Xue Ming held Qi Ji's hand and showed it to the two students.

His fingers were covered in calluses.

He then showed his own palm for comparison.

"But unlike my palms, his calluses are on the first joint of his left index finger and Thumb, unlike someone who shoots guns. His wrists are injured—and it's a result of long-term overwork."

He lifted Qi Ji's wrist, gently lowered it, and then forcefully lifted it again.

"This is the most common type of wrist osteoarthritis, with some fluid buildup. Like diabetes, if you don't improve your lifestyle and continue to do such strenuous work with your hands, it's like having excessively high blood sugar – Universal Elixir can cure this condition."

"What are you going to do now, Hao?"

For a moment, Xiao Hao didn't know what to say. At first, he just thought that Qi Ji must be a very rich person.

Because the teammates in this game seem to spend a lot of time immersed in the online world.

This guy can climb all sorts of lists. In many hardcore online games, whether you rely on time or money, you need to invest a lot of resources to get the corresponding ranking.

Even in MOBA games, Qi Ji collects all the skins. He diligently clears out every single one from holiday limited-edition items and ranked shop items.

No normal person could maintain such a high level of gaming intensity after finishing a day's work.

But now, things seem to be going differently than Hao Bro had imagined.

He simply thought that Qi Ji must be a very capable and wealthy person to be able to hang out with so many friends from the game.

Because online games require either spending time or money to purchase the corresponding experience.

In this fast-paced and impatient era, people who have time to play hardcore online games are already very wealthy.

Those who spend money, grind, and spend real money on hardcore online games are definitely top-tier players who maintain their servers, and Qi Ji happens to be both.

Hao Bro initially had many doubts—he even mistakenly thought Qi Ji was an official shill in the online game, someone who was paid to accompany players and improve their gaming experience.

Otherwise, how could this guy be so focused, like a cyborg living in a virtual world?

The seemingly frail and thin little guy in front of him, the younger brother living in a rented room converted from a warehouse, was the "absolute big brother" who led him to rampage in the game. This made him somewhat dazed, as if it were all unreal.

Qi Ji's fingers twitched, and his eyelids gradually began to open.

Xue Ming: "He's about to wake up. Have you thought it through?"

Hao Bro shook his head in a panic; all he knew was to keep moving forward and head into the distance to find his friends.

This was the courage that Teacher Meteor taught him, but when he actually met his friend, he didn't know how to start a conversation.

Xue Ming: "Then leave it to me?"

Hao Bro: "You come! You come."

When Qi Ji fully woke up, he immediately realized that he was not in bed, but sitting in a rocking chair on the first floor. He immediately looked at the people around him with a wary expression and asked in confusion.

"Are you from the Police Department? I have a temporary residence permit."

These two sentences stung Xue Ming's heart slightly.

--Because ten years ago, when he met a police officer conducting a census, he also had to hide his sister at the neighbor's house and say the same thing.

"No." Xue Ming switched to a business-like fake smile, "The thing is, Qi Ji..."

Qi Ji frowned and asked, "You know my name?"

Xue Ming Hao Bro over, pointed at Hao Bro's nose, and said, "This guy is your friend in the game—his name is Shao Jinghao."

"Hey hey hey," Hao Bro said, feeling a bit awkward as the gunsmith put his arm around him.

Qi Ji remained silent, utterly astonished.

Xue Ming continued, "You told him about this, so if he wants to come looking for you, he should come to Ma's Lamb Restaurant in Morning Light County, Forty-One District, right?"

Qi Ji stammered, "That's absolutely right."

Xue Ming continued, "So this kid came up with a terrible idea and led a few of us to come find you."

Qi Ji glanced at the gunsmith, still unsure of the situation. The gunsmith was wearing a mask and looked highly suspicious.

Xue Ming explained, "There's something I need to discuss, and I'm wondering if you have time to get involved."

Qi Ji: "You're not going to cut off my kidney, are you?"

"Hahahaha!" Hao Bro couldn't stop laughing.

Daniel burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!"

Xue Ming was speechless; he hadn't expected Qi Ji to be just as cautious as him.

"It's not about cutting your kidney. These two young men would like to invite you to participate in the Moon God Cup."

"Moon God what cup?" Qi Ji was completely stunned for a moment.

Xue Ming pointed to the poster across the street outside the door; the competition slogan was still written at the top of the poster, very prominently.

"Let's go to the agreed-upon place with our companions! It's the Moon God Cup. You haven't heard of the Moon God Cup?"

Qi Ji was stunned for a very long time.

He couldn't believe it.

"Look at my skinny arms and legs, is this appropriate? I'm just a lousy video game player, uncle, wake up!"

Xue Ming repeated Qi Ji's words to Hao Bro, his tone sarcastic. "Brother, wake up!"

"Hahahahaha!" Hao Bro continued to laugh, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

Daniel stepped in to defuse the situation first. "If you don't want to participate, we won't make things difficult for you. We'll choose other suitable teammates. Don't feel guilty. Just think of it as Xiao Hao coming all the way from Galahad to see you. You can play the game together."

At this moment, Qi Ji's attitude underwent Heaven and Earth Turning change.

His expression was initially hysterical; he couldn't understand what Hao Bro was thinking.

In his world, Shao Jinghao was only a very, very small part of the game content.

That was just an ID, a fixed team formed unintentionally, or someone dispensable in a game, a passerby with whom you have no chance in this life, and may meet again in the next.

He was just joking when he mentioned a place name and the exact location of the rented house to Hao Bro. He never expected that A Hao would travel seven or eight hundred kilometers and take a train for a day and a night to get to this place.

For a moment, he felt defeated.

A deep sense of defeat flushed his cheeks, making them burn. It was a mixture of shame and resentment.

Why could this older brother run so far based on just one sentence? You know, walking more than 300 meters to get a haircut is the limit of exercise that Qi Ji himself has set for himself.

At this very moment, A Hao also threw out a sentence at Qi Ji—

Come and participate in the Moon God Cup!

Just this once, he didn't want to admit defeat. He simply possessed an inexplicable competitive spirit, like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old child.

Can I participate?

Xue Ming was about to leave when he heard those words and suddenly turned around.

He could sense the spiritual energy tide emanating from Qi Ji. The spiritual pressure, which was originally neither strong nor weak, like a cold wind blowing from a high-rise building, suddenly seemed to be about to overturn everything and start anew.

Qi Ji then pressed on, "The Moon God Cup is also a kind of game, isn't it?"

Hao Bro excitedly replied, "You could say that! But we'll have to bring our own characters!"

Qi Ji wanted to reach out, but hesitated. He continued, "That's right, I'm a professional! This is how I make a living!"

Jiang Xueming silently watched the young man.

--The psionic energy that was originally scattered everywhere has now gathered in one place.

It was burning quietly, and you could almost hear the violent explosions.

"So, can I participate?" Qi Ji looked at Xiao Hao, then turned to the gunsmith—

He seemed to sense that the man in front of him, wearing a mask and mechanic's clothes, was not simple. The person who would truly decide whether he stayed or left was this uncle.

At this moment, the quick-witted owner immediately brought over a plate of roasted lamb.

"So you guys are all contestants in the Moon God Cup?! Come on, let me get you a few more dishes!"

He leaned close to Qi Ji's ear and whispered something.

"Young man, I didn't expect you to know such outstanding psionicists. I've never asked anyone for a favor in my life—but I need to ask you for a favor. Could you print our Ma's Lamb Restaurant's logo on the team uniforms during the competition?"

"Hey!" Qi Ji replied, half-laughing and half-crying, "She hasn't agreed yet!"

Xue Ming waved to Qi Ji outside the door, signaling him to come out and talk to him alone.

Once Qi Ji caught up, Xue Ming squatted down by the curb to ask about the child's basic situation.

"When will you come to the underground world?"

Qi Ji answered hesitantly, "Just a year ago."

Xue Ming: "Why did you come here?"

Qi Ji: "I want to find a quiet place where nobody can find me."

Xue Ming: "Do my parents know?"

Qi Ji: "I know, I call home every week and tell my parents that I'm earning money outside and will send money back to help with household expenses."

Xue Ming: "You handled things very efficiently. It's really impressive that one person could travel that far."

"Uncle," Qi Ji asked in a low voice, "Could you take off your mask and speak?"

Xue Ming: "Is it important?"

Qi Ji: "I stared at that mask, and a chill ran down my spine. I had this feeling you were a human trafficker."

Hearing this, Xue Ming felt a little embarrassed. He pulled off his mask, smiled at Qi Ji, and then immediately put it back on.

Qi Ji had met the gunsmith—or rather, no one in the entire underworld was unaware of the gunsmith's name.

In the surrounding cities along the railway line, the gunsmith has become a legendary figure, an indelible symbol. He is a hero in the hearts of the new generation of young people, a guardian who drove the Madness Butterfly Sect out of the Homo sapiens world from various transit points, and a silent and calm Death God.

"I'm awesome at shooting!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xue Ming covered the child's mouth.

Qi Ji calmed down, and with the anti-sudden death sports watch on his wrist, his heart rate suddenly soared to 140, and an alarm immediately sounded, reminding him to find some nitroglycerin.

Xue Ming gently kneaded Xiao Qi's heart.

"Have you calmed down?"

Qi Ji nodded vigorously, his eyes becoming clear.

Xue Ming released his grip, wiped the drool off his gloves, and adopted a friendly and approachable attitude.

What are your thoughts?

"Go! What other ideas do you have? If you want me to go, I'll go! I'll absolutely follow orders!" Qi Ji was so excited that he started rambling. "I'm going to rub my hands on such a big thigh! I regretted saying that as soon as I said it, and I even thought I chose the super ninja difficulty, but now it seems I'm just a ninja dog!"

"No, no, no, no," Xue Ming made herself clear. "I'm your support staff, I'm not participating in the competition."

Qi Ji's expression changed. "Huh?"

At this moment, Coach Shasha returned.

--Xue Ming pointed to the smug little shark.

"He's your head coach."

Qi Ji: "Huh?"

As soon as Shasha entered, she brought good news to everyone.

"Brothers! I sent our team roster to several local businesses! The results were fantastic! Not a single one was willing to invest in us! I think this is a great start!"

"Because of this! We're bursting with anger! That's what allows us to perform at our best during the preliminary rounds! What's needed most in battle is anger and courage! Don't you agree!?"

Qi Ji: "Huh?"

Xue Ming applauded Shasha's wisdom and brilliance, and casually stuffed a bundle of teaching materials into Qi Ji's arms.

"Here you go, I've thought of your player ID—you are a miracle."

Qi Ji looked down and everything went black.

Those were a series of targeted teaching materials on physical transformation compiled by the gunsmith instructor in Galahad.

The three ultimate black magic tricks: <Forbidden Squat>, <Death Bench Press>, <Deadly Deadlift>

The four unforgivable curses: Endless Curls, Silent Flying, Heart-wrenching Rowing, and Savage Aerobics.

The Four Evil Arts: <Suffocating Burpee>, <Chaotic Marathon>, <Abyss Freestyle Swimming>, <Foolish Yoga>

Four advanced magic tricks: Russian push-up, double arm pull-up, one-handed handstand, and front-to-back horizontal movement.

Combined with a 31-day natural month cycle diet, it is more suitable for the constitution of Chinese babies.

"Is it too late for me to regret this?" Qi Ji explained, "I went to bed early today, around ten o'clock in the morning, very early. So my mind isn't quite clear yet."

Before Qi Ji could finish speaking, the gunsmith interrupted.

"It's too late—you can slack off, but you can't actually be bad at it."

Shasha noticed Qi Ji at the door and immediately started shouting excitedly.

With a serious expression and a spirited tone, he was a very skilled psychotherapist.

"Now we have even better news! We've found our last teammate!"

"One finger is easy to break, but five fingers together make a fist!"