Chapter 293: The Inevitable Finally Arrives!
「The next day.」
News of today's competition at the gymnasium had spread throughout East Sea. The excitement was palpable, especially when word spread that one of the participants was Kou Hongmin, a long-renowned master of East Sea City. Scores of people hurried to the gymnasium to spectate.
Outside the East Sea Stadium, a sea of people had gathered. Countless luxury cars blocked every road leading to the venue.
Zhao Dong's figure finally appeared. He entered the stadium without any hindrance.
With a single glance, Zhao Dong took in the familiar faces already waiting for him: Leng Yue, Lin Qingyun, Ling Feng, Xu Qingyue, Song Zixuan, Tang Yuntian, Tang Bing, Tang Xue, and Jiang Nianyu. Even Cang Yunhao was present.
As Zhao Dong arrived, everyone turned to look at him with steadfast gazes, except for Cang Yunhao, who stared at him with ill intent.
Just then, Tang Yuntian stepped forward first. He clapped Zhao Dong firmly on the shoulder and said with a laugh, "Young friend Zhao, I believe in you!"
"Thank you, Mayor Tang," Zhao Dong responded with a smile.
After Tang Yuntian stepped back, Lin Qingyun and Ling Feng walked up to Zhao Dong's side.
"Zhao Dong, you must be careful," Lin Qingyun said, her beautiful eyes filled with concern.
Ling Feng's tone was determined. "Zhao Dong, bring out the same vigor you used to thrash me yesterday and destroy that old geezer Kou Hongmin!"
Zhao Dong chuckled wryly, and Ling Feng grinned. "Alright, I was just kidding. But as your cousin, I want you to win. Go for it!"
After the two stepped back, Leng Yue, Tang Bing, and Song Zixuan also came forward to offer their encouragement, and Zhao Dong responded to each of them.
Finally, Jiang Nianyu and Tang Xue walked over. Jiang Nianyu immediately grabbed Zhao Dong's hand, her eyes turning red. She whispered in his ear, "Zhao Dong, don't leave me without a man, alright?"
"Don't worry, Nianyu. I'll be fine."
"Mhm!" Jiang Nianyu nodded vigorously, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Lin Qingyun observed this scene, and her expression changed subtly, but she remained silent.
Lastly, Zhao Dong looked at Tang Xue and smiled. "I didn't expect you to come, too."
Tang Xue's pretty face flushed red, and she bit her lip. "Zhao Dong… you have to win. If you win, I… I'll let you treat my illness again…"
What the hell? Since when is offering to let me treat her illness a form of encouragement?
Zhao Dong nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I won't die."
"Hehe, I wouldn't be so sure about that!" a discordant voice suddenly jeered. "A mere Grandmaster daring to fight a Rank Six Great Grandmaster? Does he really expect to live?"
Everyone looked over to see Cang Yunhao with a mocking expression on his face.
"Insolence! Cang Yunhao, do you have any idea what you're saying?" Tang Yuntian roared, as the others glared angrily at him.
Cang Yunhao looked momentarily embarrassed, then pointed at the surrounding crowd. "Listen! I'm not the one saying it, they are!"
Hearing this, the group pricked up their ears and, sure enough, caught waves of derisive laughter.
"Where did this idiot Zhao Dong pop out from? If I were him, I'd have run away long ago. How dare he actually show up?"
"Exactly! He's just some nobody, yet he dares accept Kou Hongmin's challenge. What a poser!"
"This kid doesn't really think being number two on the masters' ranking makes him the second-best in all of East Sea, does he?"
"It's hard to say. You think maybe he has a trump card?"
"Hmph! In the face of absolute strength, all trump cards are just flashy nonsense! There's no way Zhao Dong can win! He's definitely going to be beaten to death!"
Such sarcastic voices could be heard from nearly every corner of the stadium.
Hearing this, the faces of those beside Zhao Dong flushed red with anger. They stood up to argue back, but compared to the massive crowd, their retorts were utterly feeble. They were quickly drowned out by another wave of laughter.
Just then, the doors to the VIP stands opened, and the vast stadium was plunged into a dead silence.