Chapter 20: The Matrimonial Portrait
At one end of the dueling arena, a corpse lay still, the air thick with the stench of blood.
The body was covered in whip marks and burns; the skin was charred black, and fresh blood oozed relentlessly from the wounds, spreading across the dueling platform like a deep crimson web.
This sudden scene stunned the forty thousand spectators into a state of mental paralysis, leaving them unable to react.
Their mouths hung open, but no sound escaped; they simply stared blankly at the horrific sight before them. The entire arena fell into a deathly silence, breaths becoming cautious and measured.
Tang Xin snapped back to reality and tapped Lin Yu, who was still dazed, tentatively asking, “Can we start cheering now?”
“Wait a little longer,” Lin Yu raised his hand and whispered, “Listen to what the audience says.”
Fans of Bian Yuelong glanced around nervously, hesitantly asking, “Can we cheer now?”
Someone replied, “Wait a bit more.”
“Let’s hear what the commentators say.”
Hongmi nudged Zicai’s elbow, softly whispering, “It’s time for the announcement.”
Bian Yuelong had just won a small match, and it was the supporters’ duty, led by Zicai, to shout the first words.
Zicai raised a hand: “Let’s hear what the referee says.”
[Answer—]
The intelligent referee emitted a buzz.
[Winner is]
[The Red Side]
[Match over]
[Next player from Qianque Palace, please prepare]
[07:44]
The most authoritative voice fell, an undeniable truth laid bare before all.
Numbered Citizen had ended his opponent’s life in just three moves.
“Congr… congratulations, Bian Yuelong!” Zicai’s voice trembled before bursting out in a shout.
“A comeback!”
“Brilliant!!!”
Bian Yuelong’s fans looked at each other in disbelief, stunned.
“W-we won?”
“Seems like… we did.”
Even those beside them were uncertain.
“Damn! We really won!”
The long-suppressed emotions exploded at that moment, the cheers roaring like a tidal wave.
“Ahhhh—”
“We won!”
“Bian Yuelong! Bian Yuelong! Bian Yuelong!”
“Amazing!”
“Three moves, so clean and decisive!”
“Instant kill!”
“Did you see that? You scum from Qianque Palace, did you see?”
“Who’s the trash now?”
“Who’s the loser?”
“Ahhhh—”
“Again!”
“0748! 0748! 0748!”
Countless people stood up, waving their hands and shouting wildly, though none were prepared with the 0748 fan sign.
The thunderous cheers nearly shook the dome of the dueling arena.
Fans of Qianque Palace turned pale, their faces ashen with the taste of bitter defeat.
“Damn, what arrogance!”
“It’s just one win.”
“What’s there to be so proud of?”
“Three moves? Just lucky!”
“Deck counters, yeah right!”
Fans on both sides clashed fiercely, refusing to yield, and the entire arena erupted into chaos.
“Ahhhh—” Lin Yu nearly shouted hoarse, “Nice!!!”
This point was no ordinary point.
It was a point avenging Jiang Yan and Mu Ningning, a point that made twenty thousand Bian Yuelong fans rise to their feet!
Numbered Citizen? Not important.
Dueling madness? Not important.
Killing the opponent? Not important.
Victory was everything!
Tang Xin closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and joyfully pounded her thigh. “Ahhhh, so amazing.”
As a girl, she had to maintain composure, not howl like the men.
Qin Dongzhu took several deep breaths and finally came to his senses. He did not shout but waved to Li Guanqi from afar.
Li Guanqi understood and approached the edge of the platform to join the three.
“You’re incredible, 0748!” Tang Xin could hardly contain her excitement.
“Don’t be rude! It’s ‘Bage’,” Lin Yu scolded sharply, playing the sycophant, serving tea. “Call him Bage!”
Tang Xin immediately corrected herself, “Bage!”
Li Guanqi took the tea, sipped lightly, and exhaled with relief.
Qin Dongzhu looked worried. “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
“It’s the substitution time now. If you’re uncomfortable, we can request a few minutes’ delay.”
“A little warm,” Li Guanqi recalled, “but nothing serious.”
“Phew—” Qin Dongzhu breathed out, forcing a relieved smile. “Thank you, really thank you.”
He didn’t care if Li Guanqi’s three-move victory was luck.
Right now, he only wanted to thank this Numbered Citizen for giving him a much-needed breath of fresh air.
A man needs his pride, a tree its bark.
For this breath of relief, he’d gladly pay a million, not just a hundred and fifty thousand.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Li Guanqi’s eyes gleamed mischievously as he said, “If I win the remaining two rounds, can I…”
“Get another fifteen thousand?”
“Ah?” Bian Yuelong’s three teammates were stunned.
This Numbered Citizen seemed a bit arrogant.
Was he really aiming to win all three matches alone?
Qin Dongzhu pondered for a moment, then said, “If you can win the remaining two, another fifteen thousand won’t be a problem.”
“Deal!” Li Guanqi’s eyes shone with excitement.
He liked this kind of wealthy patron.
New to this world, unfamiliar and short on money.
His principle for making friends—
Find one, and milk them dry.
The news quickly spread online, instantly trending under Bian Yuelong’s name.
#NumberedCitizen, Level 4 League#
#Level 10 Pain Sensation#
#Nightmare Agony#
A top-tier spectacle, word spread rapidly, drawing more and more people into the league’s chat channel.
Along with the news came a photograph.
Taken from an excellent vantage point, close-up, obviously not a spot accessible to ordinary spectators.
In the photo, Li Guanqi slightly raised his head, his face displaying the Numbered Citizen’s electronic barcode.
He half-covered his mouth, revealing a morbid, pleased smile.
That smile carried a feminine allure, exquisitely seductive.
He looked disdainfully ahead; his eyes shimmered with faint teal and orange heterochromia.
This photo was so professionally taken it could serve as a dating profile picture, with the caption “Single.”
It appealed to all genders.
The image went viral, spreading like wildfire.
[Ping—]
In a mysterious group chat of nine people, an avatar of a rabbit posted Li Guanqi’s dating photo.
“Bian Yuelong’s emergency substitute, not sure if a coincidence.”
A swordsman avatar said, “I’m right next door, need help?”
A mahjong tile avatar said, “Hua, say something, this is your turf.”
A rose avatar (group owner) said, “Terrible, so handsome!”
A mermaid avatar said, “Focus, what’s your take?”
The rose avatar (group owner) said, “I’m all for this!”
Silence followed.
An orange cat avatar sent a voice message: “Meow—”
The rose avatar (group owner) said, “Teacher says, wait and see.”
At the Underworld Domain—Wangsheng Shop.
A special card shop with many functions.
A young girl stepped lightly out of the shower, wrapped in the fresh scent and mist of bathing.
She had clear blue eyes, black wet hair softly draped over her shoulders, a few strands clinging to her cheek, her skin as white as snow, pure and lovely.
She wore a simple white bathrobe, the belt casually tied in a knot, revealing a section of her fair calf, her steps bearing an effortless elegance.
She lightly dried her hair with a large towel and descended the stairs alone, casually glancing at the group chat open on the shop manager’s computer, skillfully ignoring the twin flowers’ nonsense.
She paused slightly.
Her gaze locked firmly on Li Guanqi’s photo.