Chapter Eighty-Nine: An Unfair Verdict

Outside the arena, a great many spectators who had failed to buy tickets had gathered in a dense crowd. Watching the massive screen mounted on the wall, many of the demons began to shout in displeasure. So Yuan had been beaten down by Qin Xiaochuan just like that. If he were to lose again, it would be an utter humiliation to them all. What was more, many of the demons had placed bets on Yuan in the off-site gambling pools; if Yuan lost again, losing face would be the least of their worries. If they were ruined financially, they would not be able to bear such a blow. So many of the onlookers shouted curses at the screen.

Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the arena entrance. Looking at the sea of heads surging at the doorway, she grew a little flustered. How could there be so many people? Without a ticket, there was no way in. This was going to be troublesome.

Seven... eight...

As Miss Ruo Xi was counting, Yuan suddenly sat up from the rubble, a few stones still perched on top of him. He brushed the dust from his head, as though his senses were returning. It was unclear whether Qin Xiaochuan had really dazed him, but when Yuan saw Qin Xiaochuan standing on the platform, he actually grinned. "Your fist is hard... you... are strong..." Before he could finish, the lovable fellow lay back down again. It seemed his injuries were too severe; he could not even manage to take flight. He simply collapsed and passed out on the ground.

Ten! He did not get up. He did not get up. Qin Xiaochuan wins!

Pointing at Qin Xiaochuan, Miss Ruo Xi announced the final result of the match to the entire arena. Yet the referee's ruling only stirred fresh dissatisfaction among the spectators both inside and outside the venue.

"What kind of nonsense is this? Five against three, and now there is only one left. How is this even a fight? What a disgrace!"

"Exactly! You still can't win like that? What are you people even good for!"

"A bunch of worthless trash!"

"Die! This is disgusting!"

...

While the arena erupted in noise and complaint, a plump middle-aged man hurried over from the chairman's platform. This was the European man who had been speaking with Mister Yu Jing during the match. After reaching the earth envoy of the Demon Realm's team, he gasped for breath and then said, "Huff... hey... earth envoy, this really is all right? It took an enormous amount of effort to bring you out of the Demon Realm, and now I've even staked everything I own on you. If you lose, not only am I finished, you are finished too, do you understand?"

Hearing the man's grumbling, the earth envoy turned and said, "Relax. Those fellows are already exhausted. If you still do not trust me, I have another method."

"Oh? What method?" Upon hearing that there was a way to win, the middle-aged man quickly leaned closer. After the earth envoy whispered a few words into his ear, the man kept nodding. "Yes, yes... I see. Excellent plan. Fine, I will handle it at once." With that, he immediately turned and ran back toward the chairman's platform, hurrying even more frantically than when he had come. No one knew what the earth envoy had told him, only that it drove him to leave in such a rush.

But from their conversation, it could be determined that this man was the hidden hand manipulating the course of the match from behind the scenes. All of the unfair treatment Qin Xiaochuan's team had suffered before had been orchestrated by him alone.

Seeing his master leave, the earth envoy no longer bothered to conceal himself. He tossed off the black robe covering him and leaped straight onto the arena platform.

After the earth envoy entered the match, the referee, Ruo Xi, waved to the crowd and loudly introduced him. "The final contestant for the Demon Realm Envoys' team, the earth envoy, enters the stage!"

Freed from the black robe, the earth envoy wore a tight black outfit. His black hair was parted down the middle and draped to both sides. Beneath his sunken eye sockets sat a little nose without a tip, making him look absurdly ridiculous. Yet apparently quite confident in this strange appearance, he actually struck a pose after stepping onto the stage. Crossing his arms, the earth envoy raised his right hand to his chin and smiled smugly at Qin Xiaochuan. "Heh heh, don't be anxious. You are about to lose. Why not let me give you the ending in advance? I won't even need to lift a finger before you lose."

"What!!"

Hearing the earth envoy's words, Qin Xiaochuan's anger flared at once. What right did this fellow have to say such a thing? The match had not even begun, and he was already claiming Qin Xiaochuan would lose. Had a donkey kicked his head? That damned bastard actually dared to be this arrogant. He was dead for sure!

"Begin the match!"

At the referee's announcement, Qin Xiaochuan charged forward at once. He meant to finish off this reckless fool with a single punch. But just as he was about to strike, an incongruous voice suddenly came over the loudspeaker in the spectators' stands.

"Match suspended!"

"Oh no!"

At the order to pause the match, Qin Xiaochuan could not stop himself and crashed headfirst into the floor. Rubbing the forehead that had made intimate contact with the ground, Qin Xiaochuan stood up again and glared furiously toward the chairman's platform. What in the world was going on up there now? Were they even going to let anyone fight?

Just as Qin Xiaochuan was rubbing his throbbing head, the loudspeaker in the stands continued broadcasting.

"In the earlier duel between Qin Xiaochuan and Yuan, when Qin Xiaochuan fell out of bounds, the referee is suspected of delaying the count. Therefore, the result of the previous match is hereby amended to a draw. Neither Qin Xiaochuan nor Yuan is declared the winner!"

"What... what!? You say I delayed the count?" Staring at the ruling from the organizing committee, Miss Ruo Xi pointed at her own nose in disbelief. "I have never once delayed a count! Are you people out of your minds?"

"What is going on here?"

"What did it just say?"

"It said Qin Xiaochuan and Yuan both fell out of bounds?"

"Does that mean Qin Xiaochuan and Yuan both lost?"

"Hey, do you think the referee really delayed the count?"

"No. What about you?"

"No. I think it was perfectly normal."

"Yeah. If that's the case, wouldn't Qin Xiaochuan's team have no one left to fight?"

"That is true."

"Interesting. So Qin Xiaochuan's team lost?"

"Yes, Qin Xiaochuan's team lost?"

"That makes sense."

...

Hearing the committee's ruling, the spectators in the arena were also somewhat stunned. They could not understand why the committee would make such a judgment. After a few murmured exchanges, the demons who had no acquaintance with one another began quietly asking each other about it.

"So that's the situation, referee. Hurry up and announce Qin Xiaochuan's defeat!" As the crowd roared all around him, the earth envoy folded his arms and ordered Miss Ruo Xi. If he could win so easily, he had no desire to waste energy in pointless fighting. The final blow Qin Xiaochuan had landed on Yuan had been fearsome indeed; if this fellow still had any strength left, the earth envoy did not want to take another hit from him. It was hard to say whether Qin Xiaochuan might simply finish him off.

Ignoring the earth envoy's words, Miss Ruo Xi took up the microphone and loudly protested toward the chairman's platform. "I... I cannot accept this judgment. Please have headquarters reconsider and revoke it!"

"The ruling shall not be changed! This is the final decision!"

"......"

Just then, Frost, who had been injured in the abdomen by White Shadow below the stage, also stood up. Hearing this ridiculous ruling, he rose from the ground in agitation and clutched his wound as he protested to the earth envoy on the platform. "Earth envoy, I... I also do not accept this ruling. If this is truly the outcome, then how will you answer to the departed Painter envoy?"

"Hmph, you should abandon that childish romanticism of yours. I said it before: our purpose in coming here is to obtain the final victory. It does not matter how it is done, so long as we win. Lie down quietly, Frost." With that, the earth envoy turned and urged the referee beside him. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and announce the result, or I will kill you and replace you with another referee. The result will be the same! Do you hear me?"

"Wu..."

Just as Miss Ruo Xi was being driven back step by step by that bastard's intimidation, Qin Xiaochuan came over from the side and stood before her. Looking across at the earth envoy, Qin Xiaochuan raised his right fist with a solemn expression and said, "Who is the one who cannot accept this judgment? Do you even understand what nonsense you're saying, you bastard?"

"Qin Xiaochuan, there is no need to waste words on that fellow!"

At Fly Flame's voice from behind him, Qin Xiaochuan turned to look at him. The fellow was radiating a terrifying black demonic aura that surged around the barrier, as if his potential were boundless. The power of that demonic aura had actually doubled compared to before. Looking at Qin Xiaochuan, Fly Flame's lips curled into an evil smile. "Let him have the victory if he wants it. Just by looking at this fellow, you can see how foolish and laughable this so-called match really is. We have no need to obey these clowns' ridiculous rules." With that, Fly Flame drew out his right hand. His hand had fully recovered. Clenching his fist, a mass of black flame erupted from it, and even Qin Xiaochuan felt a chill at the dreadful aura it gave off. Looking at Qin Xiaochuan, the third eye on Fly Flame's forehead opened. "From here on, we will follow my rules: a death game in which only the truly powerful survive!"

Seeing that he could no longer seal Fly Flame away, the barrier master Liu Qing also shouted a forceful protest toward the tournament chairman's platform. "I also cannot accept headquarters' ruling! With my current strength, I can no longer suppress this fellow!"

"You're right... Fly Flame, I have already reached my limit as well!" Hearing Fly Flame's words, Qin Xiaochuan seemed to have made up his mind too. These people from the organizing committee were simply far too unreasonable. What kind of official match was this? They were a pack of shameless scoundrels, worse than common swindlers. What meaning was there in winning such a match? It was absurd beyond belief. Better to overturn this entire venue and drag out that hidden culprit, then beat him thoroughly. Only that would truly vent his anger.