Ring, ring.
Just as Xia Ping was getting ready for the afternoon quarterfinals, his father, Xia Chuanliu, suddenly called him.
"Hello, Dad. What's up?" Xia Ping took out his phone and answered.
Xia Chuanliu called out excitedly, "Son, congratulations on making it to the quarterfinals! It's nothing important. I just wanted to ask you something: do you have a chance of winning the championship this time?"
"Of course I do. But why are you asking?" Xia Ping asked curiously.
Xia Chuanliu chuckled. "Son, you don't know this, but the Tianshui City High School Fighting Tournament has caught the attention of the betting companies this year. It's incredibly popular, and just about the whole city is watching."
"So the betting companies have opened the betting. They're taking bets on who'll win the championship. Qin Muyang has the lowest odds, at half-to-one. You have the highest, at ten-to-one."
At that, Xia Ping blinked. "Dad, are you thinking of placing a bet?"
"Of course!"
Xia Chuanliu said excitedly, "If I bet on you and you win, that's ten-to-one odds! Your dad may be poor, but after saving for twenty years, I've managed to put away two or three hundred thousand."
"If I win this time, I'll get three million Federal Coins. Where else can I find such a great chance to make money? Then your mom and I can travel around the world however we like."
He sounded quite pleased with himself.
"But you're the family of a contestant. Wouldn't betting like that violate the rules?" Xia Ping asked.
Xia Chuanliu shook his head. "Don't worry. As long as I bet on you to win, it doesn't count as breaking the rules."
"Fine, then bet on me. I'm confident I can win the championship," Xia Ping said confidently.
Xia Chuanliu immediately replied, "I