Chapter 211: The Struggle
Chapter 211: The Struggle
What a struggle.
Gao Jing felt it had been a real struggle for him.
Something he could have finished in two seconds? By suppressing his power to one percent, he deliberately dragged it out for two full minutes. Could it not be a struggle?
It was a struggle!
Fortunately, his hard work paid off. Just look at the crowd’s reaction.
Sure, lots were bad-mouthing him, but even more were pouring out the Power of Faith toward him.
Honestly, becoming a sports superstar was clearly a great shortcut to harvest the Power of Faith.
But that path truly didn’t suit Gao Jing.
He didn’t like being constantly in the spotlight.
And he definitely couldn’t stand agencies popping up every few days after his fame rose, demanding blood samples.
This current setup was just right. Others paid him to show up, let him enjoy the fight, and he got a wave of Power of Faith as a bonus. Perfect.
Guys like Valarino? The more the better!
“I am the King of the World!”
Gao Jing stood atop the corner post, lifted his arms, and shouted, reigniting the arena’s frenzy.
The line might’ve been over-the-top.
But the flood of Power of Faith washing over him pushed all embarrassment aside.
“Ah!”
In the crowd, women with stars in their eyes screamed like they were trying to pierce the heavens!
“Mister Gao?!”
The referee had clearly had enough. His expression stiff, he stomped over. “You need to get down. Now.”
Gao Jing just chuckled.
He suddenly jumped high, executing a flawless backflip before landing.
A clean, steady landing onto the ring floor.
Then the referee raised Gao Jing’s hand, declaring him the victor.
Cheers, applause, whistles, and curses once more filled the arena.
Two assistants approached, practically fawning as they held out a towel and a water bottle.
Since Gao Jing had arrived on the ship alone to fight, the ship’s management had assigned him two helpers before the match against Valarino.
Gao Jing didn’t reach for the towel or the bottle.
Instead, he smiled meaningfully and patted both assistants on the shoulder.
If he wasn’t wrong? These two had almost definitely been bribed by Valarino’s side.
After reaching the second level of the Shan Yue Refining Spirit Art, Gao Jing’s spirit power had grown immensely. His perception sharpened. He’d gained something like an intuition for sensing people’s thoughts.
Their guilt was an open book to him!
Even though Gao Jing didn’t apply much force, both assistants felt as if he might shatter every bone in their bodies with that pat.
They both went pale with fright!
Gao Jing’s guess was spot on. Their intentions weren’t good at all.
But Gao Jing had finished the fight too fast. They hadn’t even gotten a chance to try anything.
Remembering the awful state Valarino was in when he was carried out? The assistants’ faces looked sicker than if they were crying.
If their dealings got exposed? Overboard for a shark snack.
Gao Jing ignored them. He grabbed the top rope and hopped down from the ring.
“Gao-Ge!”
Hou Weidong was practically bouncing with excitement. “Seriously! That was insane! Awesome!”
He turned to his rowdy friends, yelling, “Go! Go! Drinks on me to celebrate Gao-Ge’s win!”
“Everyone else go ahead first,” Gao Jing told Hou Weidong. “I need a shower.”
He headed back to his cabin, took a hot shower, changed into comfortable clothes, then walked to the bar.
The Royal Star had three bars, each with a very different feel.
Tonight, Hou Weidong picked the largest and most raucous one for Gao Jing’s victory bash: the Tropical Rainforest Bar.
Stepping into the nightclub-like space aboard the ship, Gao Jing easily spotted Hou Weidong and his friends gathered in a booth.
“Did you lose your mind?!”
Hou Weidong was spraying spit all over some young guy with dyed yellow hair as Gao Jing approached. “I told ya all! Gao-Ge would win! Easy money! And you sneak off to bet on Valarino? You got something wrong with your head?!”
The yellow-haired guy hung his head. “Hou-Ge, I messed up! I know!” His voice had that ‘I messed up big’ whine. “Please! Lend me something? Lost everything! Maxed both my cards!”
“Serves you right!”
Hou Weidong smacked him hard on the head. “Get outta my sight! Go!”
The kid slunk away.
“Who was that?” Gao Jing walked over with a chuckle.
“Gao-Ge! You’re here!” Hou Weidong instantly beamed. “Sit! Sit!”
After Gao Jing took a seat, Hou Weidong waved it off. “Just some idiot. Forget him. He’ll recover.” He nudged a girl beside him. “Wenwen! Pour drinks for Gao-Ge!”
“Okay!”
The girl was around a solid ‘8’ in appearance, radiating a cute, wholesome vibe.
She picked up a champagne bottle nestled in ice and poured Gao Jing a glass. “Gao-Ge, champagne.” She slid smoothly into the seat right next to him.
“Thanks.” Gao Jing smiled.
Hou Weidong gave Gao Jing a knowing wink and slid him a check. “Gao-Ge. Your winnings.”
Gao Jing glanced at it.
Eight figures.
USD.
Before the fight, he’d given Hou Weidong his casino winnings and his fight fee.
The bet? That he’d KO Valarino in the first round—the highest possible odds.
He’d multiplied his money several times over.
Not pocket change. A fortune.
Pocketing the check with satisfaction, Gao Jing raised his glass. “Thanks for the support everyone! Let’s have a toast!”
“Toast!”
Hou Weidong and his buddies all raised their glasses, grinning ear to ear.
They’d listened to Hou Weidong and bet on Gao Jing. Now they were all significantly richer.
A few looked annoyed—that they hadn’t bet more.
After clinking glasses, Hou Weidong introduced the group.
His friends, including Wenwen, the girl now cozy beside Gao Jing, were all ethnic Chinese offspring from families in Malaysia and Lion City.
They often sailed together on the Royal Star.
Hou Weidong ordered a mountain of expensive drinks, loudly declaring he was covering all costs for the night!
His friends lined up to toast Gao Jing. The flattery grew increasingly thick.
Meanwhile, Wenwen quietly played her part: pouring Gao Jing’s drinks, fetching snacks.
A stranger could easily mistake her for Gao Jing’s date.
The party was in full swing when a waiter, flanked by two men in sharp suits, approached their booth.
“Mister Gao.” The waiter bowed respectfully towards Gao Jing. Then he carefully placed the bottle from his tray onto the table in front of Gao Jing. “This whisky is a gift from Madam Jian at S01. She asked for you to sample it.”
“Hssss—”
Before Gao Jing could react, Hou Weidong sucked in a sharp breath.
His eyes were glued to the bottle now resting on their table.
“Dalmore 62?!”
Utter shock filled his expression. “No way!”
“What’s up?” Gao Jing asked.
Hou Weidong didn’t answer. He snapped his head around with dizzying speed, trying to spot table S01.
He turned so hard, it sounded like his neckbones cracked!
Curious now, Gao Jing also shifted his gaze to look in the same direction.