Chapter Fifty-Three: The Beginning

Disturbed to the extreme by the various newspapers on Earth, Chen Bo packed his things, ate breakfast, and headed out.

Outside the dormitory, a crowd had already gathered, pointing and whispering about him.

“I never thought Chen Bo actually lived nearby. That guy’s a real powerhouse!”

“I heard he’s just an ordinary person, not even up to the standards of a regular guy, yet he’s about to enter a life-or-death duel with someone in the late phase of Muscle Tempering. Isn’t he just courting death?”

“Hmph, I bet this loser’s brain is fried.”

“He supposedly has some unclear relationship with Yu Xin’er. Damn it, how dare he profane my dream girl? He deserves whatever fate befalls him!”

“With how useless he is, what right does he have to be with Yu Xin’er? He probably hasn’t even grown a single hair yet! Maybe not even one, hahahaha!”

Chen Bo ignored them. He was no longer the impulsive rookie who’d be provoked by a few words. After all he’d been through, he’d transformed into a thick-skinned veteran, unshaken by ridicule.

He quietly memorized those who mocked him; he was not one to forgive and forget.

News of his duel with Chen Long had spread throughout Tianyang Academy. The martial arena was already surrounded by thousands, mostly students, though some outsiders had come for the spectacle.

As Chen Bo approached, people instinctively parted to make way for him. He was well-known, and many recognized his face. This world’s artists were so skilled, their portraits rivaled cameras on Earth.

“So that’s Chen Bo? He really looks ordinary.”

“He’s doomed this time.”

“Not necessarily. Surely they’ll have some consideration for his sister. If he’s killed, Chen Jingjing won’t let it go.”

“You must be an outsider. You don’t know Guo Liu, the heir of the city lord’s mansion. He never cares about consequences, acts recklessly.”

“If Chen Bo dies, the Guo family might be dragged down by Guo Liu’s actions.”

The crowd was a tapestry of opinions: some pessimistic about Chen Bo’s chances, some eager for his demise, and some genuinely concerned for him. Surprisingly, those who cared were mostly women—people tend to sympathize with the underdog.

Moreover, his looks weren’t bad; whether on Earth or in the Wildlands, appearance still mattered.

From the sky above, one could see that every few steps Chen Bo took, dozens parted to make way, a sight both grand and solemn. If not for the mocking and gloating in their eyes, it might have looked like a leader’s inspection.

At moments like these, clever minds are never absent.

A slightly aged voice echoed across the arena: “The betting table’s open! Place your bets! Who will win this life-and-death duel?”

The voice carried a pureness of energy that made everyone present hear it, and a few lines of black humor appeared on their foreheads—they’d been thunderstruck by the old man.

“Who the hell is that old guy? Daring to open a betting ring in Tianyang Academy!”

“Shh! Don’t you value your life? He must have backing to do this. Look, even the instructors nearby pretend not to see.”

Facing the camera, Chen Bo thought, “Dear viewers, now is the moment of reckoning. Today, the streamer’s fate will be decided. You see that guy over there? He’s actually opened a betting ring.”

“And damn, so many bets—all on me losing. These people are terrifying. In fantasy novels, isn’t this where the protagonist turns the tables and shocks everyone?”

“Streamer, you said it yourself—it’s a novel. Be careful!”

“If you win, streamer, I’ll send you my collection of rare videos.”

“According to the usual fantasy tropes, the streamer’s going to get beaten badly.”

“Let’s see—the opponent, Chen Long, is late-stage Muscle Tempering. His level’s a bit unstable, but he can definitely crush the streamer. And the streamer’s only at mid-stage Skin Training, four whole levels behind.”

“Don’t worry, the streamer definitely has protagonist aura. At least the death scene will be spectacular.”

“Pfft, you bunch of morons!” Chen Bo felt thoroughly defeated; having fans like this was exhausting.

“Forget it, the streamer will ignore you for now. Time to find my best buddies. Eh? Am I jinxed? It’s uncanny!”

Speak of the devil, and they appear: Bai Ge, Guo Zi’ang, and Dugu Yixiao walked up to him.

Bai Ge strode over in a couple steps. “Chen, how confident are you about winning this duel?”

“Confidence? Maybe fifty-fifty,” Chen Bo replied uncertainly.

“Fifty-fifty? So you could die at any moment! Chen, I really don’t understand—why did you agree to Guo Liu’s challenge? Don’t tell me you and Yu Xin’er really have something going on?” Guo Zi’ang chimed in.

“Hey, you’re the one with something going on! We have a pure friendship, and not even a close one,” Chen Bo replied, exasperated.

“Chen, at this point, you’re still hiding things from us!” Guo Zi’ang protested, convinced that Chen Bo and Yu Xin’er had something between them.

Chen Bo didn’t know how to respond and suddenly recalled last night’s events, momentarily lost in thought.

Seeing his expression, Guo Zi’ang became even more certain, slapped Chen Bo’s shoulder—nearly knocking him over—and winked. “Chen, since you’re silent, I’ll take it as confirmation! Who would’ve thought you’d quietly win the heart of our academy’s flower? Amazing!”

“Truly impressive,” Bai Ge and Dugu Yixiao nodded, looking at Chen Bo with a hint of admiration. What was going on? With their looks, they surely didn’t lack girlfriends.

Chen Bo felt wronged—he was the tragic, lonely single! At this moment, it was probably Earth’s seventh day of the seventh month: the Qixi Festival.

“Right, Chen, almost forgot—we just placed our bets! In your duel with Chen Long, we bet everything on you winning. Give it your all!”

Guo Zi’ang had picked up the phrase “give it your all” from Chen Bo. At first it meant nothing, but the more he said it, the more it resonated.

“You aren’t afraid I’ll lose?” Chen Bo asked, surprised.

“Come on, you’re my brother! How could you possibly lose?” Guo Zi’ang replied, brows raised.

Lalalala, the Qixi Festival is here! Wishing happiness to all couples, and to all single dogs—may you have this day year after year! Don’t hit me.