Chapter 37: Injustice and the Wager

Watching Wang Hu declare his own defeat while his fighting spirit surged with surprising intensity, the four individuals in the lounge, Qin Zhe included, found themselves unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

Soon, cheers erupted from the arena, the noise level rising to an astonishing pitch. However, after only a short while, the commotion abruptly fell silent.

"Did Wang Hu lose?" Zhao Xinjue frowned, casting an inquiring glance toward Hei Yi and Hei Er.

"Yes." Hei Yi nodded in silence, seemingly possessing some means to observe the happenings within the arena from the lounge.

"The intel was wrong. Wang Hu’s opponent was a Fourth-Order," Hei Er stated, his expression cold.

"Fourth-Order?" Zhao Xinjue’s aura surged as his face darkened. "Have these Eagle Nation bastards no shame? They submitted documentation for a Third-Order, yet sent a Fourth-Order to the stage?"

Hei Yi and Hei Er did not respond. They exchanged a look, then closed their eyes once more to continue adjusting their states. Having overheard their brief exchange, Qin Zhe’s expression also darkened. Assigning a Fourth-Order combatant to face a Third-Order opponent was indeed despicable. How could a Third-Order possibly win against a Fourth-Order?

Yet, considering that Dean Wang Chongguo had sent him to face a Second-Order, Qin Zhe didn't find it all that surprising. His own Fourth-Order status was somewhat superficial, though only he knew that. It was clear that Wang Chongguo, by having him face James, had anticipated the possibility of the opposition cheating and wanted to ensure at least one steady victory.

Over there, seeing Hei Yi and Hei Er seemingly unwilling to provide further details, Zhao Xinjue suddenly composed himself, stood up, and said, "It’s my turn. I’ll do my best to take this match; the rest depends on you all."

Leaving behind these confident words, Zhao Xinjue walked out of the lounge, his body radiating an aura many times more powerful than Wang Hu’s had been. It seemed he had a good relationship with Wang Hu, and the sight of the latter facing a Fourth-Order opponent had genuinely enraged him.

Not long after Zhao Xinjue left, the arena erupted in noise again.

"This match is secure; the opponent is a Third-Order," Hei Er said, his eyes still closed. "Zhao Xinjue practices the Daoist thunder arts; he should be able to win before long."

It was clear that he was providing a live broadcast of the arena’s events. Qin Zhe gave a grunt of acknowledgment, closed his eyes, and waited in silence. Being stuck in the lounge without knowing what was happening in the arena was, frankly, infuriating, but there was no helping it.

For duels between practitioners, given the current level of technology, ordinary cameras were simply unable to capture the footage, making real-time broadcasting impossible.

About ten minutes later, as if to confirm Hei Er’s words, a thunderous explosion echoed from the arena.

"Won?" Qin Zhe asked.

"A narrow victory," Hei Yi replied. He opened his eyes, stood up slowly, and walked toward the exit. "Second, it’s my turn. If I don't win, don't hold back when you go up."

"Understood," Hei Er replied. He stood up, watched Hei Yi leave, then turned back to see someone looking at him, and offered a faint smile. "Don't worry. If my brother loses, even if I have to risk my life, I will secure the final match for you."

"Cough, it’s just an exchange tournament, isn't it? No need to risk your life, right?" Qin Zhe coughed, caught off guard by the blunt remark. Compared to the laconic and stoic Hei Yi, Hei Er was relatively talkative.

Hearing Qin Zhe’s cautionary words, Hei Er shook his head and sat back down. "You don't understand. This exchange tournament may appear to be a friendly match on the surface, but there are stakes involved. I don't know the specifics of what was wagered, but the President told us beforehand that no matter what, we four must win at least two matches to clear a path for you. This is for the sake of the academy and the honor of our student council."

Stakes? Qin Zhe blinked, realizing he knew far too little. Regarding this tournament, from start to finish, only Yao Jing had come to inform him that the Dean had arranged for his participation. Even when Li Zongheng had approached him personally that morning, he had only provided documentation without any special instructions. Nobody had mentioned anything about stakes to him! There had been no mobilization speeches about the academy or the student council...

Hei Yi’s match lasted a long time—over forty minutes in total—with the sounds of intense collisions echoing from the arena. As the commotion outside gradually subsided, Hei Er let out a heavy sigh and stood up.

"It’s my turn. Prepare yourself for the final, decisive battle. The outcome of this tournament rests on you."

Leaving those words behind, Hei Er walked out of the lounge and gently closed the door. He hadn't mentioned the outcome of the previous match, but it seemed likely that Hei Yi had been defeated. Facing such a situation, Qin Zhe, who hadn't taken the tournament seriously at first, began to feel the pressure. Before the opening, Yao Jing had warned him that James might not be as simple as an ordinary Second-Order.

It seemed now that James probably had some tricks up his sleeve. After all, with stakes on the line and the Eagle Nation side resorting to underhanded tactics like sending a Fourth-Order, the final match was crucial; it was impossible that they would send a mere Second-Order warrior.

Damn it! Thinking about it, being the last one to go felt like I got the short end of the stick. Qin Zhe frowned, brooding in the solitude of the lounge. As the host, Haicheng University was under immense pressure. Neither the faculty nor the students wanted to lose. Wang Chongguo had a wager with William, so he naturally wanted to win. Being responsible for the final match meant the entire outcome rested on his shoulders. If he lost, heaven knows what he would face afterward. And if he won, he wouldn't even get any benefits!

Qin Zhe felt he had been "arranged" without his knowledge—and by his own people, at that!

Just as he was feeling frustrated, a thunderous cheer erupted from the arena. Did Hei Er win? That fast? Qin Zhe was slightly stunned, and then he heard Wang Chongguo’s voice echoing in his mind.

"Qin Zhe, it’s your turn. Hei Er paid a heavy price for this match; he’ll be bedridden for at least three months. Do not let his sacrifice go to waste."

Damn! Now you’re finally giving me a pep talk?

Qin Zhe’s forehead creased with dark lines. He stood up and pushed open the lounge door, just in time to see Hei Er being carried away on a stretcher. Hei Er looked truly miserable. His skin was torn and raw, he was barely recognizable, and his breathing was as thin as a thread. He must have used some desperate, life-risking secret technique right from the start to secure the victory so quickly.

As he walked down the corridor toward the arena, Qin Zhe was greeted by the frantic roars of the students.

"Look! It’s Qin Zhe! I didn't expect the academy to arrange for him to be the final fighter! We’re sure to win!"

"It’s in the bag! That guy is tough as nails; as a fellow warrior, who can beat him?"

"Even Zhou Wentong was defeated, but the opponent is only a Second-Order warrior. How could he lose?"

"Don't forget he also practices the 'True Self Heart Sutra'! That was on the front page of the academy newspaper, it’s no lie! With his abilities, we’re definitely winning!"