Sword Among Us Novel - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Birth of a Champion
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

While the offline martial arts tournament grew in popularity, a few workers in the control center located in Beijing moved about rows upon rows of computers.
On a huge screen formed by countless other screens were a few matches playing in the game!
One man and two women stood in front of the screen, engrossed in the matches. They did not even notice when an old man dressed in a Tang suit with a dragon-head cane came to stand behind them.
The old man in the Tang suit looked very sturdy. He pointed with his cane and asked with a great degree of interest, “How is the organization of the offline martial arts test this time?”
The three people turned around at the same time. Feeling both surprised and delighted, they quickly greeted the old man respectfully.
“Elder Lin.”
“Elder Lin!”
They sounded very respectful and sincere.
“Tell me about the situation in the tournament.”
Elder Lin stared at the screen with a cordial expression. He was a modern martial artist and one of the developers of World of Martial Arts. He was a senior and teacher of many well-known people in the Martial Arts Association. Aside from mastering many of China’s martial arts and holding a record for many more, he had even created a few styles of his own. He was a great contributor to the perfection of the martial arts system in World of Martial Arts! 3
If he had not been around, the release date for World of Martial Arts might have been pushed back for at least three years.
“If no surprises appear, the champion of this tournament should be this youngster.”
One person quickly went forward to control the screen. He brought up one of the fights and pointed at the blue-robed young man whose figure was incredibly clear on the screen.
“Oh?” Elder Lin was just in time to see Happy easily and cleanly push his opponent off the stage with two palm strikes. His eyes lit up swiftly, and a surprised expression appeared on his face.
With his experience, it was not difficult for him to recognize that Happy used Shaolin’s Long Fist. His control over his strength, his timing in cutting into his opponent’s defense line, and the angle… made the old man narrow his eyes.
“He’s a talented one.”
Elder Lin nodded slowly after giving an incredibly high appraisal to the person on the screen.
“He’s indeed good. Up to now, three Blessed Realm players have lost to him. The remaining players in Gate Realm have no way of fighting back against him.” One of the male employees in charge of observing the match stopped operating the screen. He then added with an incredibly serious expression, “He is from South China Martial Arts Ranking Board, and he’s still a student.”
“Hmm.”
Elder Lin watched the match closely for a moment before he nodded repeatedly.
“It’s good that he’s a student. That means he’s young, hot-blooded, and driven. It also means that he can learn and digest martial arts even easier. If he can understand the true meaning behind the word ‘art’ in China’s ancient culture, then his life in World of Martial Arts will be much more interesting than what you can imagine.”
“That’s right.”
The employees’ faces were also filled with confidence.
“Oh, by the way, it has already been three months. Isn’t it about time that you launch the first event you developed?” Elder Lin suddenly asked, but his gaze still remained on the masked blue-robed young man on the screen.
“We will launch it tomorrow.”
The trio looked at each other and smiled.
“It fits with our plans. The three months induction period has already allowed the players to understand the basic situation in the world of martial artists, but our game cannot turn into a grinding game. If they are forced to only practice their martial arts, the game will lose its fun. From tomorrow onwards, all the disciples in the sects and clans will receive a quest, and they will all be dragged into the disputes in the world of martial artists!”
“The world of martial artists is merciless and bloody, but at the same time, it is filled with chivalry and gentleness!” The female employee nudged her glasses up to her nose, and she showed off an intellectual air that was unique to her. “Only those who have truly entered the world of martial artists will have the chance to experience the charm of that world. The people who only practice their martial arts and level up will never be able to become truly powerful.”
“I long for that day to come.”
Elder Lin continued smiling. His gaze remained on the screen for a moment more before he turned around and left under the trio’s respectful gazes.
*****
Happy’s actions were different from his initial plans. To obtain the reward offered by the official developers, Happy changed his original plan. Not only did he use mighty strength to get rid of the other two players in Blessed Realm, he also seized the title of champion without any problem. He also helped South China Martial Arts Ranking Board become the top collaborator with the official developers.
South China Martial Arts Ranking Board instantly became the center of attention of countless players, and they discussed it frequently. The mysterious player in Gate Realm who appeared to the world with his face covered was also revered like a god.
There was no other reason behind it, it was because he had won all three rounds against the Blessed Realm players, which made his abilities as clear as day.
At the moment he became champion, the University of South China instantly went into an uproar! The students, be they boys or girls, happily rushed off to tell each class and spread the good news that Happy had become the champion in the martial arts tournament.
The ones who were the most excited were the Three Lonely Wolves and Xu Xin.
Happy’s extraordinary performance had exceeded their expectations. If they had not discussed what they would do in the future earlier, they might have organized another feast to celebrate Happy’s victory.
Happy’s act of becoming champion had made even more people descend into frenzy, and among them was Phoenix Dances. Many students tried to get to the bottom of things in search of Happy’s true identity. They resorted to every trick up their sleeves, and quite a number of them even tried to secretly get some information from the Three Lonely Wolves.
But unfortunately for them, none of their actions proved useful.
The Three Lonely Wolves kept their mouths sealed tightly, and during the critical moment, they revealed the news that they would upload a transcribed report of a secret interview with Happy. This great news caused the registered members of South China Martial Arts Ranking Board to increase by leaps and bounds. It had less than six thousand people initially, but now, it increased to more than nine thousand. 2
The people from the universities around the area all registered and joined South China Martial Arts Ranking Board.
However, the person involved, Happy, became a shadow director in this entire matter. He just returned to the game to receive his rewards.
When he arrived next to the government office in Gusu City, he saw Nangong Ying from Dragon Tiger Sect again. She had a veil over her face and sat beside the threshold with an absent-minded look on her face. She seemed to be waiting for someone.
When she heard the sound of footsteps, her eyes lit up, and she stood up swiftly.
“I knew that you would emerge as the winner in the end. Congratulations for becoming the champion in the offline martial arts tournament.”
“Hmm,” Happy replied faintly. He simply could not become excited by his former enemy’s congratulatory words.
Nangong Ying was unbothered. She moved gracefully and beautifully to arrive beside him, and a pleasant scent wafted into his nose.
A light crease appeared between Happy’s eyebrows, but he did not let his impatience show. He felt that the woman changed too quickly, and he found it a little hard to adapt to it.
He received a deck of silver certificates from the governor, along with a martial art manual with silver edges. There were a few gold words written on the book—Demon Subduing Staff!
It was the greater form of Shaolin Temple’s Arhat Staff.
Happy was a little disappointed.
Staff techniques were not something he preferred. In the future, he would search for a chance to change this to a saber or a sword manual.
However, there was another reward for a martial arts tournament champion. He could request for one high-tier martial art. Happy did not hesitate and asked for the greater version of Flowering Knights Saber Technique—Flowering Knight’s Song.
Once he received the manual, Happy threw it into his Universe Bag without even looking at it. He did not give Nangong Ying a chance to sneak a peek at it. Then, without even looking back, he left the government office.
Nangong Ying stood behind him in dumbfounded shock. After some time, when Happy disappeared into the distance, she registered what had happened and huffed in anger.
This was the first time she was treated this way by a man in all her twenty-three years of life!
“What’s so great about you?! You’re just a little better in martial arts, a little more handsome, and have your own thoughts! You’re way too arrogant! Hmph! Next time, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Nangong Ying was so angry that she grumbled before she left the government office in a huff. 3