Chapter 86: The Enemies Are Here (2)
Bai Feng wanted to throw some insults at Liu Hong, but when he thought about it, Liu Hong was right. Shit. Since when was this fellow so reasonable?
"You want to win against me? You intend to win with those cheap tricks of yours?"
"Even cheap tricks are a product of wisdom." Liu Hong was not ashamed. "I will apply to become the head counselor of this year's new students. I hope you won't get in my way."
"You're going to target Su Yu?"
"Yes." Liu Hong spoke frankly, "That's your student. It's only natural that I'll target him. Sure, that makes me look bad since I'm bullying a student, but if you show some weakness there, I can prove that you're not superior to me in all aspects."
Bai Feng rubbed his chin as he sank into thought. After a while, he said, "No problem. How about this, I'll agree if you give me all your salary and merit points as the head counselor. You will need to give me an additional 50 merit points per month as well. Since you want me to turn a blind eye to your activities, you need to pay me, right?"
"My student also need to get some benefits. Only then can both of us cooperate with you. Am I right?" Bai Feng beamed, "That kid is a pauper. Pay us more and we'll work very well with you! Master and disciple, both of us can be subjected to your suppression every single day. As long as you can offer us more than what we would lose from your suppression, we'll agree.
"Also, since you guys are already aware of that kid's Divine Character, then you know that he's a genius. By suppressing a genius, if I really make a ruckus, your life will be very difficult. Liu Hong, think about my offer. If you agree, we'll work with you!"
Bai Feng spoke earnestly, "You need to know that suppressing a mediocre student is very different from suppressing a gifted student. Also, what you stand to gain is also different. Nobody will care if you manage to suppress a mediocre student. But if you manage to suppress a gifted student...tsk tsk. You will be viewed as a capable person!
"You will stand to gain even more benefits. If that kid performs well and stands out as a genius only to be suppressed by you...just imagine how good you would look?" Bai Feng exclaimed, "No, your plan is too unreliable. What about this? Let others try suppressing that kid first. He will make a comeback and humiliate them thoroughly.
"Without a comparison, people won't have a proper point of reference. With them as examples, your success in suppressing me and my student will look even more incredible! Tsk, tsk...That way, you can maximize your value!"
The more Bai Feng thought about it, the happier he was with his plan. "What do you think? You don't even need to pay that high of a price. Of course, the price will keep increasing. After all, that kid will keep growing. I'll keep growing as well. Suppressing a Skysoar cultivator and a Source Opening cultivator is different from suppressing a Cloudbreach cultivator and a Skysoar cultivator."
Liu Hong was completely dumbfounded. Was...he really agreeing so easily?
"Bai Feng, I'm being serious."
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Bai Feng said, "Without suppression, where will that kid find his motivation? Geniuses do not appear from seclusions. I was worrying about what I should do to give that kid pressure after he enters the academy without making him resent me. You have no idea how happy I am to see you volunteering to become the antagonist. Out of joy, I gave you a better idea. Isn't that reasonable?
"And when the kid finally reaches his limit and asks for my help, I'll appear and do something. You'll lose. He'll be happy. I'll be happy as well. You can then pay us.
"After that, you can ask for more benefits from the people supporting you because you are no longer able to suppress us. If they give you more benefits, you will be able to keep suppressing us. They will definitely agree. That way, we can continue making money!"
Bai Feng was getting more and more excited, "Liu Hong, you should've come to me with this idea long ago! If you did, I would have worked with you long ago! I've been very troubled recently. My teacher is not around while the research center is like an abyss that demands countless resources. I can't make enough to cover the expenses.
"I was worried about what will happen to the research center and my student if I need to leave the academy and make money. But now, I can just sit around while waiting for money to come! The next time you have a good idea like this, remember to look for me as well!"
"No..." Liu Hong couldn't help saying, "D-don't you think that this isn't right?"
"What?" Bai Feng asked in astonishment, "You're not willing to do it?"
"That's not what I meant..." Liu Hong was confused. "W-won't you feel ashamed of being suppressed by me?"
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"Ashamed?" Bai Feng asked in confusion, "Liu Hong, why should I be ashamed? You're suppressing my student. I am too busy to care about it. And when I finally have some free time, I'll come out to teach you a lesson. You'll be a good boy for a few days and I'll feel very proud. I can even show how amazing I am in front of my student. Why should I be ashamed?"
"You..." Liu Hong found himself speechless.
He had a feeling that he really didn't know Bai Feng that well. This fellow's reaction was completely different from his expectation. Even after all these years of rivalry, he still didn’t understand Bai Feng.
Liu Hong took a deep breath and said, "Since you agree, I'll agree to your conditions as well. Bai Feng, wait until I reach the Cloudbreach Realm. At that time, I'll have a fair competition with you. Right now, I still don't have enough strength to take that leap to the next level."
Bai Feng smiled, "Cloudbreach? At that time, I might already be in the Mountainsea Realm. Liu Hong, be a good boy and work for me. Don't think too much."
Liu Hong felt like cursing. He was here to talk about cooperation, not him working for Bai Feng! This fellow needed to get things clear!
Bai Feng ignored Liu Hong's reaction and continued speaking, "We'll start today. You will need to start paying me from today onwards. Is the Wu Family one of your backers?"
"No. I only got her help with my character 'force'."
"Oh. Let me study that character for a few days as well..."
Liu Hong's face fell as he said, "You're asking for too much!"
"Stop acting. Since you can give it to Wu Qi, that means this character is not that important to you. Stop lying to me. You still have other trump cards. This is merely a fake trump card. What's the big deal with letting me take a look at it?
"Do you think Wu Qi really bought your lie? Do you think I will really believe that the character 'force' is your trump card?"
Bai Feng had a look of disdain on his face. This fellow must be trying to keep his actual trump card hidden to use it against him in the future. Dream on!
Liu Hong's expression changed. After a while, he nodded, "Fine."
"Good boy!" Bai Feng smiled, "Also, my student is not so simple. Remember to find some capable students if you want to suppress him. Are there any new students from the Wan Family, the Xia Family, or the Hu Family this year?
"Let those people do the work for you. Don't count on Wu Qi's sister. If Wu Qi herself was a few years younger, you can use her. But her sister...that fool actually went to Nanyuan. It's clear she's not too bright. And a fool is not qualified to participate in our games. And she can't even be used as a fighter since she's still too young for that."
Liu Hong's mouth twitched as he said, "Is that Su Yu really that good?"
"He's a little bit better than you, I suppose." Bai Feng smiled, "It's not the matter of talent. He's more tenacious than you guys. I think he resembles...that bastard somewhat."
"The one from the war academy?"
"Who else?" Bai Feng had an unfriendly look in his eyes at the mention of that person. Before long, the look was replaced with a smile as he said, "Su Yu is also someone from a small city. Small city people like him are capable of enduring. People who don't put reputation above everything else are much harder to bring down. I like people like that. He's much better than people like you."
Liu Hong stopped walking with a pensive look on his face. Bai Feng was already in the distance. By the time Bai Feng was gone, Liu Hong's eyes flickered as he heaved a long breath. After thinking about it, he took out his communicator and made a call.
"Suppress him. Let the girl from the Wu Family take the fall. Be discreet."
After receiving an answer from the other party, Liu Hong ended the call. He then turned around and stared ahead. It was unknown what he was looking at, but a smile eventually formed on his face.
A human heart was the hardest to control. Which genius would willingly become a chess piece? He was going to reach the seventh-stage Skysoar Realm soon. One ought to remember that he was the same age as Bai Feng. Although he had suffered more defeats than victories after competing against Bai Feng all these years, that didn't mean that he was garbage.
"Maybe Bai Feng is right. Only with some examples will I be able to stand out more. I'll need to let others give it a try. But I do hope that Bai Feng and his student don't disappoint me. They better not fall apart before I even have the chance to join in."
Bai Feng wanted to keep Liu Hong around to benefit himself, but Liu Hong wanted to do the same with Bai Feng and his student as well. Without Bai Feng as the antagonist, how would he gain so much support?
"His student is still too weak. There are a few freaks among the new students this year. He better not get himself kicked around by those people. Should I...secretly help him as well?"
Liu Hong sank into contemplation, wondering if he should give that little fellow some benefits and push that little fellow into the Mental Tempering Stage as soon as possible. It would be even better if that kid could form a few more Divine Characters.