As for Hanzhi's friendly-sounding advice, Li Luo just smiled and shook his head almost pityingly. The livelier the pre-fight, the sweeter his victory would be.
"Let's go, then. To our places." He beckoned to his seething employees, then he led the way with Jiang Qing'e into the courtyard, heading for their allocated place.
Along the way, they ran into Li Bi, who was with a group of friends that were all outstanding students as well.
"Senior Li Bi!" Yan Lingqing waved enthusiastically.
Li Bi turned around at the call, smiling at Yan Lingqing before speaking to Li Luo. "Junior Li Luo. The Suncreek Villa really came, I see."
"And it's all thanks to Senior's advice."
Li Bi gave him a puzzled but polite smile. She didn't know if it was something to be thankful for. The Suncreek Villa looked shabby compared to these other villas.
"Who's your representative? Lingqing?" Li Bi asked. She knew that the Suncreek Villa had no fifth-grade artificer, so their strongest had to be someone of Yan Lingqing's level.
Yan Lingqing pointed a hesitant finger at Li Luo, who smiled. "Senior Li Bi, it will be our young lord taking the stage."
Li Bi stared at him in shock. "Do you even know what you are doing?" she burst out.
She could not understand it. The Suncreek Villa was the weakest villa present. And they were sending a third-grade resonance artificer?
Were they intending on creating the greatest comedy act ever?
"Senior Li Bi, I know what I am doing. And believe me—I won't make free with the Suncreek Villa's reputation," Li Luo said seriously.
Believe you? On what basis, that was preposterous?!
At best, the Suncreek Villa could enter the third-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights category. But other villas would be sending fifth-grade resonance artificers armed with high-star formulas. The Suncreek Villa's only promising point was their upper seventh-grade watersource, which other villas had as well.
A third-grade resonance artificer with a low-star formula? Li Luo could never hope to compete.
They would be laughed out of the courtyard. How was that supposed to attract any Resonance Artificers Hall students?
Li Bi looked at him with disappointment. "Do as you will."
She had been charmed by his confidence back at the inn, but now she saw that it was mere bluster.
Her friends turned to her when they were out of earshot. "That's Li Luo?" they asked curiously.
"He's become very famous recently."
"Oh yes, I heard he performed superbly in THE Umbra Cave. The school is giving him a special reward."
"And he's easy on the eyes too," a fashionably dressed senior said archly. "At least I'll have eye candy at the Suncreek Villa."
Some of the other girls tittered excitedly as well. "Looks like Senior Bing Tao's heart's aflutter. But Jiang Qing'e has laid claim to that one. So be careful she doesn't beat you up."
Bing Tao sighed and then shook her head. "Still, pretty looks alone aren't going to bring in the business. The Suncreek Villa is too weak. They have a dim future.
"You seemed interested a few days ago, no?" she asked Li Bi. "Must be that Yan Lingqing and her sweet talk. Still, you'd do well to see this matter with a clear head, you know." Li Bi sighed. Bing Tao was her good friend. Although the latter was only a fourth-grade artificer, she was excellent too. She had admitted some interest in the Suncreek Villa to her friend a few days ago, but Bing Tao had dismissed it as far-fetched.
Now that she knew it would be Li Luo representing the Suncreek Villa, her last hope had vanished.
Forget it. If Li Luo wanted to be suicidal, there was nothing she could do about it.
"Oh no, Senior Li Bi looks very disappointed." Yan Lingqing wailed. "It's all your fault, Li Luo." She glared at him. "Why did you have to insist on participating?!"
Li Luo was speechless. Was there no one who believed in him?!
"Well, we'll see," he managed.
At their allocated position, he spotted a few more familiar faces.
Yu Lang, Lu Qing'er, Zhao Kuo, Bai Mengmeng, Xin Fu, and a few others had all come to lend their support.
Li Luo beamed and waved enthusiastically.
Yu Lang chopped the air decisively. "Gentlemen, reveal the banner."
Zhao Kuo and the others cheered as they unfurled it. On it were the words "Fly high, Brother Luo! The fan club will always be right behind you!"
Yan Lingqing covered her face. "Can they not?" she whispered. "It's incredibly embarrassing."
Li Luo puffed his chest out proudly. "I think it's swell," he said fondly. "Good for morale, at any rate."
"And if we lose later??"
"At least Yu Lang and the others believe in me. That's one better than you guys," Li Luo complained.
Yan Lingqing barely had energy left to shrug.
Lu Qing'er was of the same mind. "Beware the hubris. What if the Suncreek Villa flops?"
"I believe in Li Luo!" Yu Lang declared stoutly.
"Besides, I have a backup plan." He waved grandly to Zhao Kuo and the others.
They sneakily unfurled another banner. "Don't worry, Brother Luo! Try again next time!"
Lu Qing'er didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
They had every outcome covered.
Confidence in Brother Luo, my foot!