Chapter 144
Chapter 144
“A deal? What kind of deal?”
Qin Lan replied with a smile, though he had long since predicted what Lu Ming would say.
Everything he had done was for this moment.
Lu Ming hesitated. “Can you speak freely? Is anyone else with you?”
Qin Lan glanced at Xu Minghu, who was watching eagerly.
“No. Go ahead.”
Lu Ming paused and asked tentatively,
“Is your ranking in this tournament important to you?”
Qin Lan’s grin nearly reached his ears, but he kept his attitude noncommittal.
“Who wouldn’t want the championship title?”
“Besides, I hear the prizes provided by the United Government and the academies are extremely generous. I’m rather tempted.”
Lu Ming’s breathing quickened at those words.
He saw hope–hope Qin Lan had deliberately allowed him to see.
“Student Xue, the strength you just displayed is enough to attract everyone’s attention… I imagine I’m not the only person who has contacted you.”
Lu Ming paused. “The championship title is yours for the taking… But if you’re interested in the prizes, I have another solution.”
Qin Lan deliberately acted surprised. “What do you mean, Professor Lu?”
“I don’t quite understand.”
Beside him, Xu Minghu was barely holding back his laughter.
He understood what a brilliant move Qin Lan had made.
Everyone assumed that anyone entering during the exhibition had to be a competitor from that academy.
Noncompetitors were technically allowed to perform, and there had indeed been precedents… but Qin Lan was too strong. So strong that no one questioned his status.
Think about it.
If your academy happened to have someone this powerful and young enough to qualify for such an important tournament, would you not send him into the competition?
He could seize the championship effortlessly!
Any other possibility made no sense.
Thus, Lu Ming and the other academy mentors all assumed Qin Lan had to be one of Clear Spring Academy’s competitors.
Otherwise, why would he suddenly jump out and create that spectacle?
Purely to show off?
Well, yes!
No one could have imagined that Qin Lan hadn’t even arrived at Clear Spring Academy before the participant list was finalized.
Had he appeared several days earlier, Xu Minghu might genuinely have begged him to compete.
Still less could anyone imagine that someone entirely unrelated to the competition would use his status as accompanying staff to jump out and terrify everyone.
The whole thing was simply too shameless. Even if someone occasionally thought of it, they wouldn’t actually do it.
But Qin Lan did.
And Lu Ming had fallen for it completely.
“I know you specialize in mental power, so there’s one item that will certainly interest you…”
Lu Ming smiled ingratiatingly. “You’ve heard of Pure Heart, I assume?”
Qin Lan continued playing dumb.
“What’s that?”
Lu Ming chuckled quietly. “You may not know, Student Xue, but Pure Heart repairs mental trauma and even assists the growth of mental power. For people like you, it is an extremely useful treasure…”
“As it happens, Skyfeather Academy also possesses a Pure Heart.”
No. Not yet. I couldn’t laugh yet.
I had to hold it in.
Qin Lan could barely keep the corners of his mouth under control.
Forty more seconds… In forty seconds, victory would be mine.
Qin Lan deliberately acted uninterested and responded casually. “Mm-hmm. Sounds decent… But if I remember correctly, that’s also one of the individual ranking prizes, isn’t it?”
“If I wanted one, couldn’t I just make a tiny effort and take fifth place?”
Lu Ming fell silent at Qin Lan’s words and cursed inwardly.
Then Lu Ming forced a smile and continued.
“Of course… But I can offer you two Pure Hearts.”
“As long as you’re willing… to restrain yourself a little during the later matches and avoid standing out too much…”
Qin Lan acted as though realization had struck.
“Oh! Professor Lu wants me to throw the tournament.”
“Aren’t you asking me to disregard my academy’s reputation? If I throw the matches, how am I supposed to answer to that old man Xu Minghu?”
“No deal.”
Qin Lan’s voice abruptly turned cold.
Seeing Qin Lan about to refuse, Lu Ming grew anxious.
“Wait! Student Xue! Hold on!”
“Clear Spring Academy is wasting your talent! That old bastard Xu Minghu has no idea how to nurture a genius!”
“As long as you’re willing to help and prevent Clear Spring from winning, we can negotiate the details!”
As the saying went, one should refuse while inviting pursuit, retreat while preparing to capture…
Qin Lan handled the principle perfectly.
Had he agreed immediately, that old man Lu Ming might have suspected something.
But the more Qin Lan refused, the more firmly the other man believed him.
“Professor Lu, you also understand that Clear Spring Academy has trained me for so long. I have to show at least some loyalty…”
Qin Lan sounded deeply conflicted. “How about this? If you can afford three Pure Hearts, I’ll find a way to withdraw.”
“I won’t participate in the tournament at all. I’ll deal with Professor Xu. What do you think?”
Withdraw outright?
So decisively?
Lu Ming froze. He had only dared propose throwing matches during their negotiation.
He hadn’t expected Qin Lan–or rather, Student Xue Chuan–to be so ruthless that he immediately offered to withdraw.
Withdrawal was naturally better, but… three Pure Hearts?
That price was truly steep.
“That…”
Sweat appeared on Lu Ming’s forehead, and he began to stammer. “I need to consider it, Student Xue. Perhaps–”
“Take your time.”
Qin Lan answered decisively. “Tell me when you’ve decided.”
Then Qin Lan sneered. “I can promise you this: perhaps I can’t make Clear Spring Academy the champion, but I can absolutely make Skyfeather Academy finish dead last.”
“Feel free to test me if you don’t believe it.”
What had started as a deal was now a naked threat.
Lu Ming’s heart lurched. He hadn’t expected this young man to be so ruthless.
Originally, he had planned to hesitate and judge whether the price was bearable… but Qin Lan’s single sentence placed him directly over the fire.
Indeed, even if Qin Lan couldn’t win the championship, he was unquestionably capable of preventing Skyfeather Academy from achieving a good rank.
The mental power he had displayed earlier was enough on its own!
Lu Ming tried to say more, but Qin Lan ended the call.
He clutched his phone, face ashen, yet could do nothing.
“Professor Lu, did he agree?”
Li Fengyun anxiously pressed him from nearby.
Lu Ming narrowed his eyes, his expression dark. “Hmph. That brat has quite an appetite… Three Pure Hearts? I can’t believe he dared ask!”
“Still… I need to discuss it with the principal.”
After a moment’s thought, Lu Ming revealed a sinister smile.
“Heh. I nearly forgot. Why should we be the only ones bleeding for this?”
“Not one of those bastards is getting away!”