Someone Wanted Him to Lose

After the second match, Yuan Yu did not return to the waiting room right away.

Someone from the Spirit Arena invited him into a side room, saying they needed to confirm the rules for the third match.

Flender immediately tried to follow.

The manager stopped him with a smile.

"Don't worry, Dean Flender. It's just procedure."

Yuan Yu glanced at Flender.

"Dean, please sit down first."

Flender frowned.

"Don't do anything reckless."

Yuan Yu smiled. "I'm always reasonable."

Zhao Wuji said from beside him, "It's just that people aren't always standing after he's done reasoning with them."

The light in the side room was dimmer.

Besides the manager, a middle-aged man in black was there.

He sat by the table, turning a silver token between his fingers.

He did not stand when Yuan Yu entered.

"Myriad Phenomena. I've heard a great deal about you."

Yuan Yu looked at him.

"And you are?"

The manager hurried to explain. "This is Mr. Xu, an honored guest of the Spirit Arena."

Mr. Xu smiled.

"My name isn't important. What matters is that I admire you."

Yuan Yu sat down.

"Enough to invite me here alone?"

Mr. Xu pushed a money pouch across the table.

It was heavy.

It landed with a dull thud.

"Lose the third match, but make it look good."

The room fell silent.

Even the manager's smile froze.

Yuan Yu looked at the pouch.

"You don't mince words."

"I like speaking with clever people," Mr. Xu said. "You've already won twice and made a name for yourself. Losing the third match won't disgrace you."

"And then?"

"After that, every match you fight at the Suotuo City Spirit Arena will be arranged for you. Win when you want, lose when you want. You'll be well paid."

Yuan Yu smiled.

"How considerate."

Mr. Xu smiled too.

"Young man, something too rigid breaks easily."

Yuan Yu reached out and pushed the pouch back.

"I don't need money."

Mr. Xu's gaze cooled.

"Shrek does."

"Then talk to Dean Flender."

"Would he agree?"

Yuan Yu gave it serious thought.

"If you offered enough, he might hesitate."

The manager's mouth twitched.

Yuan Yu went on. "But I won't agree, so his hesitation won't matter."

Mr. Xu's fingers went still.

"Do you know that refusing me could cause trouble for the people around you?"

At that, the smile vanished from Yuan Yu's face.

Outside the side room, Tang San stood around the corner.

He had only come to see how things were going.

When he heard those words, his fingers moved toward his cuff.

Oscar stood behind him, his face pale.

Ning Rongrong stood farther back, frowning deeply.

She had met plenty of nobles and merchants.

She knew Mr. Xu's tone well.

He was not negotiating.

He was treating people as bargaining chips.

Inside, Yuan Yu raised his eyes to Mr. Xu.

"Are you threatening me?"

Mr. Xu gave a faint smile.

"Just a reminder. Blades and Swords Have No Eyes on the Dueling Platform. You can't protect everyone in every match."

The Sun Wheel Blade at Yuan Yu's side gave a soft ring.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glimmered faintly.

But Yuan Yu had seen Mr. Xu's gaze shift slightly toward the manager as he spoke.

He was borrowing the Spirit Arena's authority.

That did not mean he truly controlled it.

The manager, at least, was afraid of trouble.

Yuan Yu picked up the silver token.

"Who did you put in the third match?"

"Blood Scythe," Mr. Xu said.

The manager's expression changed.

"Mr. Xu, Blood Scythe isn't on tonight's roster."

"He is now."

Mr. Xu looked at Yuan Yu.

"A level fifty-nine Soul King. His martial soul is the Blood Scythe. Agree now, and we can give you someone else for the third match."

Yuan Yu set the token back on the table.

"No need."

Mr. Xu narrowed his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Yuan Yu stood.

"One more thing."

Mr. Xu looked up.

Yuan Yu met his eyes and said, one word at a time, "Don't touch anyone from Shrek."

Mr. Xu laughed.

"Young men do love their tough talk."

Yuan Yu said nothing more and turned toward the door.

When he opened it, Tang San, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong were all outside.

Oscar coughed awkwardly.

"Just passing by."

"I wasn't," Ning Rongrong said coldly. "I heard everything."

Tang San looked at Yuan Yu.

"Is there a problem with the third match?"

Yuan Yu nodded.

"They've brought in someone who wants to break my hand."

Oscar went pale.

"How can you say that so calmly?"

"I still have to fight, calm or not."

"I can have my family investigate him," Ning Rongrong said.

Yuan Yu glanced at her.

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"He talked too big. He might not have as much power as he claims."

Tang San's eyes sharpened.

"You could tell?"

Yuan Yu patted the Sun Wheel Blade.

"More or less."

Tang San did not press him.

Everyone had something they could not be asked about on the spot.

When they returned to the waiting area, Flender took one look at their faces and knew something was wrong.

"Who's in the third match?"

"Blood Scythe. Level fifty-nine," Yuan Yu said.

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.

"The Blood Scythe who's crippled people before?"

Xiao Wu sprang to her feet.

"Is he going to try to hurt you badly?"

Yuan Yu smiled.

"Maybe."

Ma Hongjun grew anxious.

"And you're smiling?"

Yuan Yu drew the Sun Wheel Blade and looked at the faint rosy light along its edge.

"What should I do, cry?"

Outside, the host's voice rang out.

"The third match of Myriad Phenomena's winning-streak challenge!"

"Myriad Phenomena versus Blood Scythe!"

A few sharp gasps rose amid the cheers.

Yuan Yu headed out with his blade.

"Watch his left hand," Tang San said quietly.

Yuan Yu paused.

"When he entered earlier, I saw that his left sleeve was heavier than his right," Tang San said.

Yuan Yu looked back with a smile.

"Thanks."

A chill ran down Oscar's spine.

"His left sleeve was heavier? You notice things like that?"

"His left arm swung more slowly when he walked," Tang San said.

Oscar looked down at his own sleeves.

"I think I'll keep my distance from you from now on."

Xiao Wu popped up beside them.

"Why would Xiao San watch you? What could you hide in your sleeves besides sausages?"

Oscar thought it over seriously.

"A big sausage."

Ma Hongjun immediately backed away.

"Stop talking."

That loosened the tension on several faces.

Watching them, Yuan Yu felt some of the chill inside him recede.

The other side had threatened him with Shrek.

He made a note of it.

But he was still in the Spirit Arena. What mattered now was winning the third match and chopping off the hand they had reached toward him.

In the shadows above the rest area, Ling Yuan asked quietly, "Should I look into that Mr. Xu?"

Azure Luan looked toward the side hall.

"Let's see what Yuan Yu does first."

Ling Yuan frowned.

"He's only twelve."

Azure Luan said, "That's why we're here."

Ling Yuan said nothing more.

She looked toward the entrance to the Dueling Platform. A fiery feather flashed in her palm, then she put it away.

Yuan Yu wanted to test himself. She could let him.

But if someone truly reached for his life, that was no longer training.

That was asking to die.

Azure Luan did not argue. He merely watched the arena below.

The night was dark.

Beneath the roof, the lights burned bright.

Light fell across the Dueling Platform.

Blood Scythe stood opposite Yuan Yu and ran the tip of his tongue over his lips.

"Kid, I hear you're pretty quick with your hands."

Yuan Yu gripped his blade.

"Quick enough."

Blood Scythe grinned.

"Not once they're cut off."