Chapter 168 Pact
Under Fang Xingyun’s lead, Jiang Xiao rushed back to Jianghu City and returned to the national team’s hotel.

Unsurprisingly, Xie Yan, Yu Jin, and Hou Mingming had all returned. As the number of contestants dwindled, opponents could finally be studied and analyzed in full detail. One could imagine that in the coming five days, Jiang Xiao would have a lot of mental activity, and might even find the feeling he had during the college entrance exams.

Eh? Wait… Wasn’t Jiang Xiao specially recruited into the Imperial Capital Star Warriors?

Currently, in the hotel, other than Wu Xiaojing, who was still fighting in the placement matches, the other team members had returned.

Inevitably, Jiang Xiao was greeted by Hou Mingming's provocation once again.

Well, it couldn’t exactly be called provocation, it should be called “cheering and encouragement.”

Since this was the main camp, the hotel cafeteria prepared Chinese meals every day. Fang Xingyun was finally freed from having to order meals for Jiang Xiao.

It was the morning of the second day after Jiang Xiao returned to the hotel. He was “slurping” soy milk when a graceful figure in white sat down beside him.

Jiang Xiao turned his head and saw Hou Mingming’s bright eyes.

Her plate contained a bowl of millet porridge, four small side dishes, and… six eggs.

If he hadn’t seen the salty and spicy dishes, Jiang Xiao would have thought she was in her postpartum confinement.

“Don’t lose,” Hou Mingming said as she sat next to Jiang Xiao, scooping up the piping hot millet porridge with a spoon.

Jiang Xiao was stunned for a moment, and turned to look at her: “What?”

Hou Mingming casually picked up an egg, rolled it on the table, making a “crack crack” sound, and continued: “Don’t lose before you meet me.”

Across the table, Zhao Wenlong quietly ate his meal. The Imperial Capital trio had reunited once more, but he had become the person with the least say.

A knockout-style World Cup was indeed cruel.

If it had been a points battle or a gauntlet match, Old Zhao might still be on the field fighting.

Hou Mingming picked up the egg with the crushed shell, peeled it open in a few swift movements, and placed it on her plate, but frowned slightly, turning to look at the silly-looking Jiang Xiao: “What? No confidence?”

It turned out that ever since she said that sentence, Jiang Xiao had been staring blankly at Hou Mingming, looking rather unintelligent.

“Oh, oh,” Jiang Xiao came back to his senses, he had indeed spaced out just now, and asked, “Why do you still wear a hat while eating?”

Hou Mingming raised her hand to adjust her white baseball cap. Just as she was about to say something, Jiang Xiao seized the opportunity, reached into her plate, and stole the egg she had just peeled.

Hou Mingming: “……”

Jiang Xiao took a bite of the egg, choked a little, and quickly lowered his head to drink some soy milk.

Hou Mingming was expressionless as she picked up another egg and rolled it on the table.

Jiang Xiao’s eyes glanced over again as he ate.

Hou Mingming’s movements paused slightly, then… then she moved her plate a full two seats away.

“Pfft… Haha!” Seeing Hou Mingming get the short end of the stick, Zhao Wenlong couldn’t help but laugh.

As expected, a villain still needs a bigger villain to grind them down!

He and Hou Mingming had been fighting for four whole years, and he knew her personality too well.

She was so arrogant and prideful, and so strong, that ordinary people really couldn’t do anything about her. The problem was… who else would steal her eggs like Jiang Xiao?

Hou Mingming raised her eyes and glanced at Zhao Wenlong, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she forcefully held back. She continued to peel her eggs.

Jiang Xiao, however, picked up his plate and sat down next to Hou Mingming again.

Hou Mingming’s movements stiffened slightly.

“Hahahahahaha!” This scene made Zhao Wenlong burst out laughing completely.

Wherever there are dancing leaves… uh, no.

Wherever Jiang Xiao is, the style will inevitably deviate.

The crowd in the cafeteria looked over, watching the Imperial Capital Star Warrior trio, wondering what was going on. Were they that happy just eating breakfast?

There wasn’t much to say about the few days of “preparing for the exam.” During these days, the only two important pieces of news were that Song Chunxi’s team had entered the top 33.

In this round of the team competition, there were a total of 65 teams. With one team getting a bye, the 64 teams engaged in fierce battles. Song Chunxi and her team fought more and more bravely, defeating the Pampas Eagles. This time, the Argentina Republic, whether in the team competition or the individual competition, was completely sent packing.

The team that got the bye was from the Kingdom of Sweden, causing people to exclaim that the European Emperor was indeed lucky and fair.

That night, Jiang Xiao chatted with Han Jiangxue for a long time. Words of congratulations and encouragement followed one after another. In the end, Little Jiangxue couldn’t bear it anymore and hung up the phone directly, leaving Jiang Xiao in a mess in the wind.

Why did she hang up on me? I haven’t praised her enough yet!

Heaven testifies that Jiang Xiao was truly proud of her.

Alas… this girl was probably too shy, and couldn’t stand being praised by Jiang Xiao, so she hung up the phone directly.

Jiang Xiao had experienced this kind of feeling before. When Xia Yan was reading the news in the taxi, Jiang Xiao was also full of shame…

The second more important piece of news was Wu Xiaojing’s placement match results.

The placement matches in the loser bracket were simply inhumane. The schedule was frighteningly dense, almost giving the players no time to rest. On the first day, Wu Xiaojing won two consecutive matches, directly entering the top ten out of the 40 people in the loser bracket.

After a day’s break, Wu Xiaojing fought three more matches. In the first round, she won and entered the top five. In the second round, she lost to Prince Bino of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, failing to enter the top three gauntlet match. In the third round, she still lost, and ultimately ranked fifth in the loser bracket.

46th place in the World Cup individual competition.

With such results, the domestic media was relatively friendly and approving towards this beautiful girl. After all, she had entered the top 50 in the world, and she had fought bravely among all the experts. She had already brought great honor to her alma mater and country.

Wu Xiaojing returned to Jianghu City the next day, during the draw ceremony for the top 41 elimination matches.

This girl barged into the small auditorium, and the first thing she saw was that damned Yu Jin.

The second thing, or rather, soon after, she heard a sigh.

Such sighs were common in the draw ceremony, but this sigh then turned into dissatisfied shouts and discussions. Such a noisy and chaotic scene was rare in the national team’s small auditorium.

“Is it really possible to run into each other like this?”

“What should we do? They both have the strength to go further!”

“Currently, China is indeed the country with the most remaining players in the top 41, with a total of 4. The United States, Germany, the Russian Federation, and other major countries only have 2 each.”

Wu Xiaojing curiously looked at the big screen in front, and then, her pupils shrank slightly.

Finally, she knew why there was a wail in the small auditorium!

On the big screen,

Yu Jin, playing with his Water Mist Dagger and grinning wildly, appeared in the number one slot.

And in the number two slot, the Red Star flag was also flying high, with a figure tearing at black boxing wraps appearing in it.

Yu Jin vs. Xie Yan!

A Chinese civil war!

Without analyzing who was stronger, the inevitable result of this match was that one Chinese player would have to stop at the top 21.

At the same time, Yu Jin, who was sitting by the window on the left side of the auditorium, turned his head, his gaze passing through the figures and looking towards Xie Yan, who was leaning against the wall on the far right.

But Xie Yan was just quietly adjusting his boxing wraps, his head lowered, looking focused, seemingly unmoved by this result.

The crowd in the auditorium looked at the two of them, secretly regretting it, but they could only helplessly accept this outcome.

“Hou Mingming is up!”

Until a soft cry, everyone refocused their attention on the big screen in front.

Watching the figure on the right side switch rapidly, everyone’s hearts were raised.

“Please don’t let it be Jiang Xiaopi!”

“Don’t joke with me!”

“So nervous… I’m going, I’m going…”

Wu Xiaojing stood at the back door, her hands crossed and resting on her chin, her beautiful eyes locked on the big screen in front, softly muttering: “No, no.”

Ding!

In the auditorium, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief. Their requirements had been lowered again and again. It didn’t matter whether it was a god or a demon, as long as it wasn’t a Chinese civil war, it would be fine.

The number 2 slot did indeed bring a god!

A hunting goddess with almost the same style as Hou Mingming!

The She-Man of Xiya, she is the representative figure in this World Cup who uses a spear and bow: Carmelita!

And Hou Mingming, without a doubt, is also the representative figure in this World Cup who uses a bow and arrow.

This was completely a head-on bombardment between two stationary turrets. As soon as this matchup was announced, the world’s other countries’ audiences were already in a frenzy, except for the people of China and Xiya, who were slightly worried.

Even though their battle hadn’t started yet, the audience’s blood had already begun to boil.

This might become the most exciting head-on battle in this World Cup!

Carmelita put the title of the hunting goddess from the Xiya myths on her head.

And Hou Mingming, as the captain of China, as the strongest person in a strong country and team, could she shoot down one of the gods, following in Jiang Xiaopi’s footsteps of slaughtering gods?

The reaction of the crowd in the auditorium was quite interesting. First, they breathed a sigh of relief, as long as it wasn’t a Chinese civil war, it would be fine. Then, their hearts were raised again.

Until now, Hou Mingming hadn’t encountered this type or even this level of opponent before, it wouldn’t be easy…

The draw for the 41 people was quick. Not long after Hou Mingming’s draw, the Red Star flag flew again in the number 1 slot.

Jiang Xiao rubbed his head, wearing the national team uniform, and smiling, he barged into everyone’s eyes.

The draw was coming to an end. There were only 5 people to choose from for the number 2 slot, and the images switched quickly.

Ding!

The next moment, the auditorium was as silent as death!

In the number 2 slot, the Stars and Stripes flickered, flew up, and hung in the upper right corner.

Below the flag,

A figure with messy golden curly hair, bulging eyeballs, veins crawling on his forehead, and a laughing mouth that stretched to the roots of his ears appeared!

He was laughing, laughing wildly…

George Star!

“Don’t… please don’t!”

“What the heck…”

Even though the auditorium was full of national team staff, swear words flew out.

Although all 41 people were experts, even a room full of academic geniuses could compare who was good at studying and who was not.

Without a doubt, George Star was strong, strong to the point of being bizarre.

This kind of person simply couldn’t be judged by common sense. He was crazy to the extreme, and his whole body exuded an ominous aura.

Zhao Wenlong had a solemn expression. He now hoped that Jiang Xiao had drawn Hou Mingming instead.

Swish!

Suddenly, Hou Mingming stood up. A group of people who were originally looking at the screen or at Jiang Xiao were involuntarily drawn to Hou Mingming.

They saw Hou Mingming walk towards the back of the auditorium, coming directly to Jiang Xiao’s side.

She leaned down, placed a hand on Jiang Xiao’s shoulder, the strength of which squeezed Jiang Xiao’s shoulder painfully. They only heard her say: “Don’t lose.”

From her body language, her expression, and her words, Jiang Xiao realized just how strong Hou Mingming’s desire to battle him was.

So strong that she was somewhat out of control.

Jiang Xiao reached out, pried open her hand that was squeezing his shoulder, and slapped it on the table in front of him.

Jiang Xiao looked up at Hou Mingming and said, “I won’t lose. The question is, can you shoot down that hunting goddess and take her title? You know my fighting style, I only slaughter gods.”

Hou Mingming looked at Jiang Xiao with burning eyes. After a long while, her hand pressed on the table suddenly clenched into a fist, but she extended a pinky finger.

Hou Mingming: “Promise.”

Jiang Xiao was stunned for a moment. Such a childish action shouldn’t have appeared on her, but her expression was so serious.

Suddenly,

Jiang Xiao knew why she could become the number one person in the Imperial Capital Star Warriors, and even be crowned with the title of the number one single combatant in China.

The arrogance, pride, and even the unruliness she showed,

All of this was because she was an extremely simple person, a true and pure Star Warrior!

Jiang Xiao hooked her pinky finger, moved it up and down, and made a “deal” gesture.

He nodded. Hou Mingming’s childish behavior made Jiang Xiao recognize a fact.

In the Star Warrior community, there really were such people, purely adorable.