"Cocky? I’ve always been cocky, so much so I’m practically shoulder to shoulder with the sun."
Faced with Yang Jianming’s threat, Su Yan replied with a grin.
Yang Jianming frowned upon hearing this.
For a moment, he couldn’t figure out what on earth Su Yan was talking about.
After about two seconds, he finally realized what Su Yan meant, and his eyes darkened.
Then he said threateningly, "I’m telling you, Student Su, being such a smart aleck isn’t a good habit."
"Be careful you don’t get too clever for your own good and end up squandering your ’chances’."
"You should know, since ancient times, this very ’chance’ also encompasses serendipity and opportunity."
"And the consequences of having no ’chances’ left... well, I needn’t spell it out. Those who understand, do."
"I hope you know what’s good for you and won’t be so stubborn as to refuse a gesture of goodwill, only to regret it when faced with punishment. Don’t wait until it’s too late for regrets."
Yang Jianming unexpectedly launched into this tirade.
Su Yan, finding some truth in it, nodded. "Fair enough, that’s true."
Then, he added, "But on the other hand, Student Yang, you seem so grim. Why all the needless talk?"
Yang Jianming replied expressionlessly, "Go on, keep showing off. Show off all you want while you still can."
With that, Yang Jianming turned and walked away, heading straight for the logistics area up ahead.
Meanwhile, a biological information panel still lingered in Su Yan’s mind.
[Name]: Yang Jianming
[Skill]: Invalidation
Invalidation? Is it skill invalidation?
As Su Yan was pondering, the phone in his pocket suddenly started to vibrate violently.
He pulled it out; it was a call from his father.
When he answered, a delicate, soft girl’s voice came through.
Thinking this, Su Yan asked in confusion, "Yike, why are you using Dad’s phone to call? Where’s your own phone?"
Su Yike pursed her lips, her voice tinged with regret. "I rushed out today and forgot to charge it, and I also forgot to bring my power bank."
Su Yan nodded. "Yike, is there something urgent for you to call me at this hour?"
"It’s not really anything urgent..." Su Yike’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
Then she continued, "I just saw on the big screen that your next opponent is Yang Jianming..."
"Yang Jianming seems like a ruthless person, so I’m a bit worried..."
Su Yan chuckled upon hearing this. "There’s nothing to worry about. It’s not a big deal, don’t panic."
Su Yike still seemed uneasy. "That person just disabled his opponent’s arms. It feels a bit terrifying..."
Su Yan agreed. "Yes, I saw that scene too. It did look quite terrifying."
Hearing her brother say this, Su Yike’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She then said worriedly, "Brother, are you confident..."
Before Su Yike could finish, Su Yan interrupted, "Confident? Of course, I’m confident! A man’s gotta have ’balls,’ right?"
"Bro, I’m still worried..."
Su Yike went on, "If it turns out you can’t beat him, let’s surrender and admit defeat, okay? That contestant named Yang Jianming is too malicious..."
"You don’t have to worry about that. Your brother isn’t stupid. If I can’t win, I won’t force it."
Seeing his little sister so concerned, Su Yan comforted her gently.
But just as he finished speaking, a deep and steady older man’s voice came from the phone.
"Son, you must have seen how vicious your next opponent is, right?"
"Then, during the next match, remember to act within your capabilities. Don’t force yourself."
After speaking, Su Yan wanted to hang up. "Alright Dad, I should get go—"
Before he could finish, a Loli Voice came from the phone.
"Su Yan, your next opponent is despicable, crushing someone’s arms like that! Remember to beat him to a pulp for me!"
"If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."
Saying this, Su Yan directly hung up the call.
The intermission between matches passed quickly. With less than five minutes remaining, the contestants who had gone to the logistics area to rest started returning to the square.
At this moment, Talkative Li Changxiao, as usual, strolled over to Su Yan’s side and struck up a familiar conversation.
"I’m telling you, Student Su Yan, you were too incredible in the first round, weren’t you?"
"That Gu Qingli, she’s so unpredictable with her Divine Nerve Knife; everyone here is afraid of her. Nobody wants to be matched against her."
"But you? You finished her off in three seconds flat! Wasn’t that way too fast?"
Damn it... Su Yan’s face darkened as he listened. He immediately shot back, "I think you’re doing this on purpose, right? ’Three seconds’ this, ’three seconds’ that! Are you trying to jinx me or what?!"
"Ah!? Did I say three seconds? That was a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue! I meant to say less than three minutes."
Li Changxiao looked sheepish, then added, "Speaking of which, Student Su Yan, are you confident about beating Yang Jianming?"
Su Yan sensed this guy was fishing for information and said directly, "Don’t ask. If you have to ask, it means I’m not confident."
Li Changxiao laughed. "Haha, Student Su Yan, you’re truly modest."