Chapter 820: Forever Second Best
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Sun Wei stood tall, his chest puffed out in a display of arrogance. His eyes gleamed with a triumphant glint as he addressed Su Li, “Last year was my first time participating, and I managed to secure the third place in the junior group. This time, I’m aiming for the championship. I don’t have the time to deal with you. If you kneel and call me ‘Brother Sun’, I might consider letting you lose gracefully. How about it? Oh, wait, you probably won’t even make it to the third round.”
Sun Wei spoke as if it was a certainty that he would face Su Li. After finishing his taunt, he joined his two lackeys in a boisterous laugh, their behavior utterly detestable.
Su Li glanced at the entrance of the venue, his older brother’s figure was still nowhere to be seen. The ridicule and mockery from Sun Wei and his cronies stung, hardening his resolve. His gaze sharpened, becoming resolute as he retorted, “Bring it on. If I do face you, I’ll make sure you lose in a way that’s pleasing to the eye, out of respect for our classmates.”
With that, Su Li strode towards the preparation room, no longer paying any attention to the laughter behind him. His stubborn silhouette carried a hint of steady determination, a stark contrast to his usual jovial demeanor. Anyone familiar with him would find this change surprising.
Soon, the first round of draws began, followed by the first round of matches. Su Li faced an opponent who was clearly out of his depth. The boy was so terrified that he wet his pants before the match even began, tearfully exiting the stage. His domineering mother berated him, expressing her disappointment in his lack of courage. It was clear that he had been forced into the competition by his family.
At that moment, Su Li felt a warmth in his heart. He was grateful that his mother never forced him to do anything he didn’t want to.
After the first round, twelve participants from the junior group advanced to the second round. This round tested their endurance and balance by having them stand on one leg atop a wooden stake the size of a fist. These were two crucial skills for any martial artist.
Within ten minutes, three participants had fallen from their stakes and were eliminated. By the fifteen-minute mark, a large number of participants couldn’t hold on any longer. Only three remained on their stakes, causing a wave of tension to sweep across the venue.
The next one to fall would secure the third place in the martial arts competition, while the remaining two would advance to the third round to compete for the championship.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, but at the twenty-minute mark, a third-grade student fell from his stake, securing the third place. Su Li and Sun Wei were the last two standing, set to face each other in the final round.
On the surface, Sun Wei appeared dismissive, but deep down, he had begun to acknowledge Su Li’s strength. However, this only fueled his desire to defeat Su Li. He couldn’t allow this country boy to shatter his preconceptions. In his mind, children raised in the countryside could never surpass those raised in the city.
As for Su Li, he too was fully engrossed in the competition. Recalling the smug expressions on Sun Wei and his friends’ faces, he constantly reminded himself that even if his brother hadn’t come to cheer him on, he had to beat Sun Wei. He wanted to show them that they should never underestimate him.
With the referee’s command, Su Li and Sun Wei began their ascent on the climbing platform. This round was a test of speed and agility, with the first to reach the top and grab the large red flower declared the winner. The entire course was equipped with high-quality safety gear, ensuring no accidents would occur.
At this moment, Gao Ming rushed over. Seeing Su Li lagging behind, he joined Gu Jun’s group, cheering loudly, “Go Su Li, surpass him! Sun Wei was only a runner-up last year, you must make him the runner-up again this year, forever second best!”
Meanwhile, at the Su residence, Gu Zi had finished changing her clothes and was hurriedly putting on her shoes at the door. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Can we still make it in time?”
Su Bing, carrying Lele in a baby carrier, was heading out, reassuring her, “We’ll definitely make it. I’ve already arranged for a taxi. It’s waiting outside.”
Gu Zi and Su Bing arrived at the school gate and ran directly towards the martial arts hall. Gu Zi hadn’t exercised this intensely in a long time. By the time they reached the martial arts hall, she felt as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest. But thankfully, they had made it in time.
Relieved, Gu Zi and Su Bing took seats at the edge of the audience stand. Their attention was already on the stage where the competition had reached a fever pitch.
Both students had reached the top and were engaged in a fierce struggle, one attacking, the other defending. Their movements were so fast they were leaving afterimages, making it hard to tell who would be the first to grab the large red flower.
Inside the venue, everyone had risen to their feet, cheering non-stop. The volume of the cheers grew louder with each wave, with supporters for both Su Li and Sun Wei. The two male students who had earlier joined Sun Wei in mocking Su Li were now gaping in disbelief.
“How has that country boy managed to hold on for so long? He hasn’t been eliminated yet, even if he doesn’t win, he’ll be the runner-up!”
“I don’t know about you, but it looks like Sun Wei is running out of steam. Surely, Su Li isn’t going to beat him, is he?”