Youth Martial Tournament Rules, Let's Go!

"This trip to Qijia Town has actually been quite fruitful for me.

Perhaps I can offer you a surprise, Director Zeng."

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As the two spoke, Li Yuan voiced his confidence.

Seeing Director Zeng's state, Li Yuan wanted to give him some reassurance, or at least bring him a measure of confidence.

Hearing this, Deputy Director Zeng Chang just smiled.

"Just show your best side; don't worry about my issues here.

Even if Jin Fan hadn't defected to Chishan City, the pressure from this year's Youth Martial Tournament would still be immense.

The Southeast Region has a special development fund, totaling twelve billion yuan.

Every city is going all out to compete for a ranking.

Talents that were hidden before have all been deployed this time.

The requirement I gave you earlier—to aim for the top thirty—was already tough enough.

Let alone the trouble we're facing now, which can't be solved by just getting thirtieth place."

Director Zeng's words carried an unspoken remainder.

To give him confidence and resolve his predicament, Li Yuan would have to beat Jin Fan.

That step was more than ten times harder than breaking into the top thirty.

Pausing for a moment, Director Zeng dropped the subject.

Instead, he turned to talk about Lingshan No.1 High School.

"I heard you went to Lingshan No.1 High School yesterday to answer questions for the students?"

"Since I've been away for so long and the Youth Martial Tournament is coming up, I thought I'd help clear up some doubts for the students."

Li Yuan explained, not thinking it was a big deal.

Hearing this, Director Zeng nodded approvingly and patted Li Yuan on the shoulder.

"I've always believed that people in education must have professional ethics.

Many treat the teaching position as a stepping stone upward.

Teaching work itself ends up taking a backseat.

After the Youth Martial Tournament, I'll likely be demoted to serve as the principal of Lingshan No.2 High School.

If there's a chance, I'd like to bring you along."

It was clear that Zeng Chang genuinely appreciated Li Yuan.

He didn't blame him over the Youth Martial Tournament matter and even wanted to recruit him as a subordinate.

The Deputy Director of the Municipal Education Bureau being demoted to principal of Lingshan No.2 High School was an obvious reduction in power.

The scope of a Deputy Director's authority far exceeded that of Lingshan No.2 High School.

Lingshan No.2 High School itself was small, nearly half the size of No.1 High School.

The average student performance there also lagged behind No.1 High School.

This was the price of losing a power struggle.

"Take this Youth Martial Tournament seriously. Maybe your students will have the chance to participate in the future.

The experience you pass on to them then might prove quite helpful."

As the two talked, the other participating martial artists from Lingshan City had mostly arrived.

Martial artists from various units brought their own equipment, looking quite professional.

Li Yuan hadn't even brought a weapon this time; he planned to borrow standard-issue gear from the organizing committee.

The martial artists from other units didn't come alone.

They had people sent by their units to assist and handle miscellaneous tasks.

Time was about up. Director Zeng gathered everyone and called roll to confirm the headcount.

Lingshan City had twelve participating martial artists this time.

Since each city only counts the results of ten participants in the Youth Martial Tournament, two people's scores would be disregarded.

Those two served as a buffer; being eliminated in the tournament wouldn't matter.

Soon, the twelve participating martial artists gathered in the middle of the gymnasium.

They lined up in a row, and Director Zeng began calling names.

"Water Resources Bureau, Ma Qi."

"Present."

"Transportation Bureau, Liang Jin."

"Here."

Twelve people—how long could roll call take? Soon enough, it reached Li Yuan.

With that "here," the gazes of everyone else turned toward him.

They had all heard Li Yuan's name before.

But this was the first time they'd seen what he actually looked like.

"So you're Li Yuan from Lingshan No.1 High School. You sure seem to be taking it well.

With all those people in Lingshan City cursing you out, you still showed up for the Youth Martial Tournament."

The one speaking was that Ma Qi from the Water Resources Bureau.

No one else chimed in.

But the expressions on their faces made their stance clear enough.

They were obviously on Ma Qi's side.

"All the tactics we set up beforehand—because of your nonsense, they're completely ruined now.

And you drove Jin Fan all the way to Chishan City. Never once thought about what's best for Lingshan City.

Only caring about your own gain, sacrificing the interests of a million citizens."

Hearing Ma Qi's words, Li Yuan wasn't about to let it slide. He shot back immediately.

"If you care so much about the interests of a million citizens, you could give your own spot to Jin Fan.

What's the matter?

Only generous with other people's things, telling me to give up my spot?"

Among adults, most of the time, you keep up appearances.

But there are plenty of people in this world who just talk nasty.

If they don't want that courtesy, then there's no need to keep it.

Right now, Li Yuan wasn't giving him any face at all.

Ma Qi hadn't expected that Li Yuan, the one everyone was cursing, would dare to talk back like this.

"Jin Fan and I aren't even in the same unit. How easy do you think it is to transfer a spot?"

Ma Qi scrambled for an excuse.

But the excuse he came up with was flimsy as hell.

"Jin Fan doesn't work in Chishan City, yet he still got a spot there.

You and him are just across units.

Is that really harder than crossing cities?"

Li Yuan's string of counter-questions left Ma Qi speechless.

Of course, everyone wanted Lingshan City to get a good result in the Youth Martial Tournament.

But that good result couldn't come at the cost of their own sacrifice.

Participating in the Youth Martial Tournament guaranteed at least thirty bottles of B-grade Nutrient Fluid.

Getting some results meant even more rewards.

On top of that, there was reputation, fame.

Performance in the Youth Martial Tournament was the basis for a martial artist's future opportunities—joining trials, taking on important positions.

Why should anyone trust you? Showing your Youth Martial Tournament results was proof.

Ma Qi wasn't stupid. He'd fought hard for this spot. No way he was giving it up.

The other participants and helpers around them fell silent for a moment.

Li Yuan's retort had truly left Ma Qi with nothing to say.

He'd thought Li Yuan was some dull, clueless kid.

He never expected that in just a few exchanges, he'd be made to look so pathetic.

At that moment, the team leader, Director Zeng, spoke up.

"The participants are all set. There's no changing it now.

Some words are pointless to keep saying.

Also, don't bring up those pre-arranged tactics.

This year's Youth Martial Tournament explicitly forbids coordinated point-dumping.

Once you enter the competition zone, your final result depends entirely on yourself."

After Deputy Director Zeng Chang finished saying this, he led the group forward, heading to the Youth Martial Tournament competition area.

The Youth Martial Tournament of the Southeast Region does not have a fixed competition location.

Typically, a town-sized area is cleared along the border.

For one to two months, ferocious beasts are allowed to enter this zone.

Before the tournament begins, the border is sealed off, and the participating martial artists are sent inside.

Within this region, the final ranking is determined by the quantity and quality of ferocious beasts slain.