Era of Mist

Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Comrades Everywhere

Situ the Bald, who was shaking Shi Tiexin by the collar, suddenly fell silent. The two stared at each other, dumbfounded.

”Did I mishear that?”

”I don’t think so. The voice was crystal clear.”

”You actually won an award?”

”I guess so.”

”What kind of award is this ’Most Promising’ thing anyway? Is it even respectable? Is it just some kind of consolation prize? You—HOLY~~ SHIT~~~!!”

WHOOSH! A golden radiance burst forth from the void. A beam of golden light descended from some unknown height, WHOOSHING down onto Shi Tiexin and piercing through his body, his soul, and his vision system.

Situ Zhennan’s eyes went wide.

Shi Tiexin’s eyes went wide too.

He watched, wide-eyed, as the nearly empty award certificate suddenly began to fill up again. Golden Light Melting Fluid poured into the certificate like crackling rain, and the fluid level within immediately began to rise slowly.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him ecstatic.

Celestial Golden Light!

He never expected that the ”Most Promising Award” would actually come with Celestial Golden Light! The person who announced the award wasn’t exaggerating at all. When they said ”most,” they meant ”most.” Winning the top spot among the potential-filled contestants actually granted Celestial Golden Light. It seemed this competition was completely legitimate and convincing.

Shi Tiexin took a look. Perhaps it was because this ”Most Promising Award” wasn’t an official award from the competition’s organizing committee, but just a last-minute addition. Or maybe it was because even though it was called the ”most” promising, its prestige was still far less than a proper first-place prize. As a result, the amount of Celestial Golden Light granted this time wasn’t much—just over ten points.

But just getting some was enough to leave him satisfied.

Not to mention, Shi Tiexin hadn’t forgotten that award winners also got prize money. ’Wait a minute, this wasn’t a planned award. Does that mean there’s no money? No way!’

Shi Tiexin and Situ Zhennan exchanged a look, then suddenly broke into a sprint toward the venue at the same time.

”We gotta get a picture!”

”We gotta get the money!”

A security guard at the entrance blocked them like a dam, his face stern and impartial. ”No unauthorized entry.”

”We’re here to accept an award!”

”Doesn’t matter if you’re accepting an award.”

”C’mon, buddy. We work for the same company. I’m with Xiongan, too. Can’t you cut us some slack?”

”Doesn’t matter if we’re colleagues.”

”We’re really here to accept an award! Didn’t you just see the Celestial Golden Light coming off him?”

”Doesn’t matter if there was golden light.”

”@#$%&!”

Situ the Bald and Shi Tiexin argued with the diligent guard for a while before finally using a feint. They pulled a one-two pass to get by him and then charged into the awards venue like mad dogs.

”Damn it, why is this venue so huge! Where the hell is the ceremony?” The two of them ran around like headless chickens until they finally located the source of the cheers and laughter. They charged toward the awards ceremony, but just as they reached the entrance, they were stopped short by a sharp rebuke. ”Who goes there, causing such a ruckus!”

Someone was blocking their path.

”No time! Ignore him, just charge!” Situ Zhennan clutched his camera and sprinted forward with incredible speed. Shi Tiexin was a step behind, forced to watch the big, gleaming bald head fly forward and plunge headfirst into a newly opened secret realm.

As far as Shi Tiexin knew, secret realms were one-on-one affairs. So, he shouted toward the realm, ”Hold him off!” and took off running again, planning to dash straight into the venue. After all, once a secret realm was opened, the dimensions of space and time were altered. The outside couldn’t affect the inside, and likewise, the inside couldn’t affect the outside—at least, that’s what he understood.

”Don’t you worry—watch my Cannon Fist!” Situ Zhennan’s roar was heroic and valiant.

But Shi Tiexin hadn’t taken two steps, not even reaching the spot where the secret realm had opened, when he heard a THUD. The big bald head came tumbling out of the realm and hit the ground, rolling around and groaning in pain.

Shi Tiexin screeched to a halt. ”You couldn’t even last that long?”

The big bald head couldn’t help but wail, ”He’s a battle qi master! Who could possibly hold out against that?!”

Shi Tiexin’s mind went blank.

A battle qi master?

The third major level of force cultivation, a true master above the level of Sharp Qi!

’It’s over,’ Shi Tiexin thought. ’No tricks will work against battle qi.’

Shi Tiexin looked over in alarm and saw a slender, middle-aged man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was frowning at the old bald guy rolling on the floor. ”Cannon Fist? Who taught you Cannon Fist? Never mind, we’ll talk about that later. You two trespassed and disturbed the peace. You’re both coming with me!”

「Ten minutes later.」

In a small, dark room, Shi Tiexin sat bolt upright, ready to explain everything from start to finish.

”You’re here to accept an award?”

”Yes.”

”What award?”

”The Most Promising Award.”

”Why didn’t you enter the venue earlier? Didn’t you make it in time?”

”I didn’t have money for a ticket.”

”You didn’t...” The middle-aged man was speechless for a moment, then asked, ”Then why did you force your way into the venue?”

”To accept the award.”

”You can accept the award anytime. They can issue it online.”

”I also needed to take a picture.”

”A picture?”

”Yes.” Shi Tiexin pointed to the side and told the truth. ”If we get a picture, that bald guy can take it back and brag, which might improve the treatment of the Orphanage.”

Where Shi Tiexin pointed, Situ the Bald was sprawled in a small chair as if he didn’t have a single bone in his body. He looked over with a fawning expression. ”Comrade! Hey, comrade!”

The middle-aged man frowned. ”Who’s a comrade of yours?”

”Anyone who recognizes Cannon Fist has to be my comrade!” Situ the Bald squirmed. ”You could say we got off on the wrong foot. How about you call off your Divine Abilities?”

”Hmph!” The middle-aged man shook his head and casually snapped his fingers. SNAP! Situ the Bald sprang to his feet as if resurrected. The bald man patted himself down all over, then gave the middle-aged man a thumbs-up. ”Your Trapped Dragon Lock technique is simply masterful! You truly are a comrade.”

”Enough!” The middle-aged man couldn’t stand the old bald guy’s chatter. ”Situ Zhennan, I’ve heard your name before. I didn’t expect... well, you really are an old rascal. Alright, we’ll let today’s incident slide. You can go, but don’t try to force your way in again.”

”Okay, no problem!” Situ Zhennan lifted his camera and said with a sheepish grin, ”Um, comrade, since we can’t get a photo of the Lord Sacrificial Officer, would it be okay if I took a picture of you?”

”Get lost!”

The middle-aged man stood up and left, his movements carrying a distinct military air. He opened the door and walked out of the small, dark room.

Once the middle-aged man was gone, Situ Zhennan scratched his head in frustration, but Shi Tiexin remained seated, calm and unperturbed. The Golden Light had been received, the photo op was a bust, and there was no chance of seeing the Lord Sacrificial Officer. From what the battle qi master said, it sounded like the award itself was secure. ’So what’s there to panic about?’

So, Shi Tiexin stared at the old bald guy, pondering. ’Cannon Fist? Comrade? This old bald guy seems more complicated than he lets on.’

Situ Zhennan grabbed Shi Tiexin. ”Don’t just sit there spacing out, let’s go! We can’t see the Lord Sacrificial Officer, but hurry up and come with me to find my old comrade. Maybe we can still get a picture!”

”How come you have comrades everywhere?”