Backstage of the gym.
Fang Ping strode in. He saw an anxious-looking Tang Wen, as well as other MCMAU new and senior students who had made it into the top hundred.
None of them had to compete today, but they all came to get information on the prospective opponent by scouting and watching the match.
When they noticed Fang Ping walk in, their manners were slightly constrained.
It was not that they had not seen a powerhouse. These guys had plenty of Rank-5 and 6s at home, what more a Rank-4.
Although... The authorities could not order them around like the current person in charge could.
Meeting the president of the Martial Arts Society who would throw them to the wolves, they had no choice but to behave in a constrained manner.
“President!”
One by one, they greeted him. Fang Ping nodded slightly, chuckling. “How are you feeling?”
Luo Sheng replied quickly, “Everyone’s really strong. It’s quite stressful.”
“There’s no need to be too nervous. All Rank-1 martial artists have limited abilities. Other than a few senior Rank-1 martial artists who have cultivated their Combat Techniques to the point of attaining perfection, the disparity between the rest of them isn’t too far off. The main thing is your improvisational skill when you’re in the arena.”
In truth, there were not many senior Rank-1 martial artists who participated in the Rank-1 martial arts competition this time.
Actually, they were somewhat ashamed by the fact that they were too old yet still remained in Rank-1. They were also embarrassed to steal the limelight. They might even get laughed at instead.
“A few of you are twice-honed martial artists, even including a near thrice-honed. In Rank-1 and 2, you have a much bigger advantage than others.
“You don’t lack weapons, pills, nor Combat Techniques. Your Vitality rich; your bones strong...
“As long as you don’t panic during the fight, or face martial artists who have grasped the Rank-1 ultimate moves, you’re sure to win.”
Fang Ping explained in a simple way. Then, he continued, “CCMAU didn’t send any contestants for the competition this time, neither did the Military Department. Although they call this National Rank-1 Martial Arts Competition, it’s not comprehensive enough, really. Amongst others, MCMAU has the strongest ability.”
“My goal is to be the first. Perhaps even making a clean sweep of the top three.”
Saying that, Fang Ping turned his attention to Tang Wen, grinning. “Your father is MCMAU’s higher-up. He’s also the first out of everyone lower than the Grandmaster rank. In the entire Sino Nation, Instructor Tang is also a top-notch powerhouse among all Rank-6... Tang Wen, don’t embarrass your father.”
Tang Wen was helpless. Get straight to the point.
“You must get number one. If you don’t, not only are you humiliating your father, but you’re also humiliating the School of Weaponry, the entire MCMAU, and the three High Grandmasters...”
Tang Wen was suffocating from this unwarranted pressure. If my dad’s reputation was already so valuable at Rank-6. What about the future generations of the Grandmasters then?
It was not like there was none in the competition this time!
So, she must be strong because her elder generation was?
Fang Ping was picking a fight on purpose!
Fang Ping did not continue. He chuckled. “I think highly of you, Tang Wen. You got this. Win the first place. When the time comes, I’ll ask someone to give you a nickname—Little Mad Lion, and put it on the ranking list. It will be completely groundbreaking for a Rank-1 martial artist to get a nickname for the first time.
Saying those words, Fang Ping marched off.
Once he had left, Tang Wen cursed under her breath. “Bastard, picking a fight on purpose. I’m still a new student. The first semester hasn’t even ended yet. Asking me to win first place...”
If this was not tyrannizing others on purpose, then what was?
The rest of them did not echo her words. That fellow had not gone far yet. Was she not afraid of getting heard?
...
Leaving the backstage.
Fang Ping walked up the second floor of the gym, scanning the floor at a glance. Suddenly, his gaze paused.
Over there... My eyes were not playing tricks, were they?
Liu Dali had held his sister under duress?
This was the first thing that popped up in Fang Ping’s mind. Then, he ruled out the possibility very quickly. Unless Liu Dali no longer wished to live anymore, or else, he would not have the courage to do something such as holding someone under duress. Even Grandmasters could not save him.
“This little brat... How did she end up with Liu Dali?”
Fang Ping mumbled. After mulling it over, he beckoned to someone behind him.
When the Martial Arts Society member approached him, Fang Ping ordered in a low voice, “Bring my sister up here. Don’t say anything. Just say that your brother is waiting for you on the second floor.”
“Got it.”
The Martial Arts Society member went down very quickly. Fang Ping pushed himself back on the seat as well, avoiding Liu Dali’s line of vision.
...
As soon as Fang Yuan came upstairs, she mumbled, “Bro, I’m not done taking photos yet.”
“Let’s not talk about the photos now. Why are you with Liu Dali?”
“Oh, are you talking about that reporter?” Fang Yuan giggled. “I’m taking photos; he’s taking footage. He claims that my photos don’t turn out so well, insisting that I take a look at his... Then, he agreed to help me take the photos. No kidding, he takes really good photos.”
After explaining, Fang Yuan asked curiously, “Do you know him... Oh right, I think... I think I’ve seen him before too.”
Fang Yuan was deep in thought. After a while, she seemed to have recalled something, asking curiously, “Is he the one who filmed your fight with the monk last time? Is he the guy?”
She did not put too much thought into it earlier. Now that Fang Ping was asking about it, she seemed to have connected the dots.
“That’s him.”
Saying those words, Fang Ping whispered, “He filmed us in secret, earning tens of millions. In the end, he pocketed the profit alone. Your brother, I, have been searching for him for so long.”
“Tens of millions!”
Fang Yuan’s voice had turned into a high-pitched one.
“Tens of millions.”
“He... took all of it for himself?”
“Mm.”
Fang Ping responded. He laughed. “If I catch him myself, this kid may not be honest about having any money. Since you know him, that’s perfect then. Try and probe into how much money he has now. Don’t give it away, we don’t want him to escape.”
As for safety, Fang Ping did not put too much thought into it.
Despite pocketing all his money, strictly speaking... Liu Dali was not really breaking the law either. Fang Ping did not sign any papers, whereas he had also shared some profit with Fang Ping.
What he held was a personal grudge.
If he touched a single hair on Fang Yuan’s body, it would not be purely a matter of money. It would be a matter of life and death.
Fang Yuan’s eyes were sparkling, nodding quickly. Tens of millions!
That fellow actually took tens of millions from her family all for himself. How loathsome!
She must get to the bottom of this before he transferred his assets.
“I’ll be going now then!”
“Cough, cough. Be careful. Later, I’ll go to the second floor where you will be. Let me do the catching. He’s a Rank-3. You better not draw attention to yourself.”
“Got it.”
After saying those words, Fang Yuan ran downstairs in a hurry.
...
After a while.
Fang Yuan returned, looking very composed.
Liu Dali took a look upstairs but did not see anything. He asked curiously, “Your brother is looking for you?”
“Mm. Brother Liu, I even mentioned you in front of my brother.”
Fang Yuan giggled. “But my brother told me that he has not heard of you. Must be a nobody. He won’t accept your interview.”
Liu Dali ‘humphed’ softly after hearing what she said. “That’s because your brother lacks knowledge and experience. Kid, In this circle, I don’t dare to say anything else, but if I, Brother Liu, declare that I’m the second, no one dares admit that they’re the first!”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Brother Liu is so cool!” Fang Yuan said with astonishment. Then, she continued, “But, I still feel like Brother Liu is bragging. My brother doesn’t even know you. He’s well-acquainted with the MCMAU vice-chancellors. If you’re so famous, my brother will surely have heard of you. Maybe he can even make arrangements for you to interview the vice-chancellors.”
Liu Dali’s eyes lit up!
‘Are you serious?
‘This brat’s brother is well-acquainted with MCMAU’s vice-chancellors?
‘She’s not playing tricks on me, is she?
‘That’s the Grandmaster-rank powerhouses we’re talking about!’
Since Year 09, more people started to have an increased yearning toward martial artists. Especially toward powerhouses, all the more admiration, and curiosity.
Everyone knew that Grandmaster-rank powerhouses were most certainly powerful.
For example, the battle in Peace Bridge earlier. Everyone speculated that it was perhaps a great battle between Grandmaster-rank powerhouses.
Exactly what happened, what rank was it, were the questions that everyone could only guess.
Everyone hardly knew anything about powerhouses.
Powerhouses rarely accepted interviews. Even if they did, they mostly talked about businesses and politics. They rarely discussed the things going on in martial arts.
If he could interview MCMAU’s vice-chancellor... He would be beyond famous!
While Liu Dali was thinking about this, Fang Yuan shook her head. “Forget it. Brother Liu must be boasting...”
“Hey, kid. Do you think Brother Liu is lying to you? It is I, Brother Liu, who filmed the battle between Rank-8 powerhouses last time. Also... cough, cough. Whatever it is, any videos related to great battles between martial arts powerhouses’, many of them were filmed and interviewed by me, Brother Liu.”
From this kid’s manner of speaking, her brother must be a capable person in MCMAU. If he could get acquainted with some of the MCMAU higher-ups through her brother, there was no reason for him to be afraid of Fang Ping anymore!
Fang Ping gave him a once-over suspiciously, acting nonchalantly. “If Brother Liu is so famous... why do you... why do you seem so poor?”
Fang Yuan looked slightly embarrassed, scratching her head, saying, “Don’t be mad, Brother Liu. People say that famous reporters are all extremely rich. Many of them are billionaires... Brother Liu however...”
Liu Dali snorted, “Kid, who did you hear this from? Speaking of rich, you would have to open up your own company, otherwise, as an independent reporter, I, Brother Liu, am the richest...”
“Why aren’t you on the list of the wealthiest people then?”
Liu Dali looked embarrassed. ‘This kid is too naive. How can I, a reporter alone, be any richer than the CEOs of big corporations?’
However, one can lose morale but not strategy. He must not embarrass himself in front of this kid. Liu Dali explained. “We call this hiding a candle under a bushel...”
“Does that mean Brother Liu is very rich?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have several billion?”
“Cough, cough. Nearly there...”
“Hundreds of millions?”
“That... I don’t have that many current assets. But, I do have many fixed assets under my name...”
“Oh, that means it’s tens of millions then. I thought Brother Liu is truly rich.”
Liu Dali kept quiet, he did not try to prove her wrong.
After that, Fang Yuan started to worm it out of him.
How many properties does Brother Liu have?
Do you have a car?
What kind of car do you have?
Did you buy any stocks? I heard that stocks had started to rise recently.
Have you done any financial investments?
...
Second floor.
Fang Ping heard everything. His expression darkened slightly. This brat... was something!
Liu Dali lowered his guard against Fang Yuan probably because Fang Yuan was still young. Not sure whether he was bragging, or feigning to impress, one after another, he revealed that he had more than ten properties under his name, three to five luxurious cars, did not manage his finances but had many shares over many different companies.
From what Liu Dali was saying, he did not have many current assets, but he had a good deal of fixed assets.
He was even a reputable director in many companies and could also earn a bunch of bonuses and pay every year.
“If what he says is true, this kid is rather rich!”
Fang Ping was slightly doubtful but also rather convinced at the same time.
Liu Dali was a Rank-3 martial artist. Now, he had stepped into Upper-stage Rank-3. One step closer to the elite stage among martial artists.
He was also qualified as a powerhouse amongst casual martial artists.
A martial artist like this was not attached to any organization. It would not be surprising if he was hired by a few companies.
Fang Yuan was almost done with her questions. Fang Ping wasted no time either.
Very soon, Fang Ping dropped gently from the second floor, landing behind Liu Dali.
At this moment, Liu Dali was still telling stories about his glorious achievements, chuckling. “Kid, Brother Liu is not lying to you. If you don’t believe it, you can ask your brother to look up my name. I definitely have a great reputation. When are you going to introduce your brother to me?”
Fang Yuan blinked, looking at Fang Ping standing behind him, and giggled. “Why don’t I introduce him to you now?”
“Really?”
“Mm. Bro, get to know each other!”
“I know him. I’ve known him for so long!”
Fang Ping happily stretched out his hand and pressed down on Liu Dali’s shoulder. Liu Dali stiffened. His mouth felt dry. “You... you guys... are siblings?”
Fang Ping chortled. “Brother Liu, it’s been a while.”
“Fang... Brother Fang. Long time no see!”
Liu Dali turned his head, his face was beyond stiff. He put on a bitter expression, saying, “Brother Fang, I’ve not seen you in a while and you’re so much more radiant and exuberant now...”
“Not as cozy as Brother Dali. People like us, we’re always fighting and killing. Life’s tough.
“Unlike Brother Dali, who owns more than ten properties, plenty of luxurious cars, and even a shareholder and director of a few big companies.
“Compared to Brother Dali... Sigh, I feel like I’m no different from a beggar.
“Last time Brother Dali left without saying goodbye, owing me tens of millions. Don’t you think it’s time to pay up?”
“Tens... tens of millions?”
“Liu Dali’s expression grew even stiffer!
He sold the video last time in an outright sale and received a total bonus of 21 million, he had received 12.5 million himself.
According to Fang Ping’s eight-to-two split, he was supposed to receive more than 4 million. But, he had also spent some money on hiring an internet water army to boost interest. Taking 4.5 million should not be a problem.
Besides, he had only pocketed Fang Ping’s 8 million or so.
How did... how did it turn into tens of millions now?
“Brother Dali, it’s hard for me these days. Do you think you can fork out 50 million?”
“5...50 million?”
Liu Dali’s face had turned purple!
Then, he was suddenly weeping bitter tears, lamenting. “Boss Fang, everything I’ve said earlier was all just an exaggeration. What I said about tens of properties, luxurious cars, and whatnot, they’re all just to boast.
“Right now, I don’t have a fixed residence. I’m even taking public transportation to commute. I don’t even have 5000 bucks, let alone 50 million.
“If I’m really that wealthy, I wouldn’t be working as a reporter anymore.
“Even the money last time had all been spent to buy pills...”
“You... if you don’t believe me...”
Liu Dali seemed to have recalled something, pulling out his smartphone quickly. He opened up a text message and handed it over to Fang Ping, complaining tearfully, “I swiped my credit card to buy a bottle of water this morning. Right now, I can’t even pay my credit card. Some of them are even overdue and I’ve yet to pay them.
“Boss Fang, I really don’t have any money. I’m risking my life this time to interview the Rank-1 competition all for some living expenses...”
Fang Ping took a look at the text message notification, his face seemed a little dark. Then, he scrolled up to look at some of the records... there were really notifications to demand overdue payments!
Motherf*cker!
A Rank-3 martial artist being in such dire straits. Why did he not just kill himself!
Beside them, Fang Yuan was dumbfounded too. She mumbled, “Didn’t you just say...”
Liu Dali put on a long face, explaining, “It’s just to brag. Career instincts. Little sister, don’t take it seriously.”
After saying that, he looked at Fang Ping with a pitiful expression, asking, “I heard that MCMAU’s cafeteria offers free food. Boss Fang, as for lunch... can I eat at the cafeteria?”
Fang Ping’s face was beyond dark. He spoke through gritted teeth. “Where’s your weapon?”
“Weapon?”
Liu Dali raised his video recorder and said dryly, “This is not valuable either. It’s secondhand...”
Fang Ping wanted to spit blood. This was your weapon?
“Boss Fang, this is the last property I have. With this, I can still earn some money. Don’t take it away from me. If you take it away, I will really starve to death...”
Fang Ping was completely speechless. This... this must be the poorest Rank-3 rascal he had ever met, right?
Although martial artists were poor, none of them were poor to this extent!
Even to the point that the credit card payments were overdue!
Did this fellow not find it humiliating at all?
If the bank saw his message, they might have the urge to spit blood too. An Upper-stage Rank-3 martial artist had an overdue payment of tens of thousands. Should they demand payment at his front door? If they wanted to get the money back, they would need to send a Rank-4 martial artist to do it, no?
Most importantly, sending a Rank-4 martial artist to get tens of thousands back. Would that not be too embarrassing?
Even the capital was not enough!
Fang Ping took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to bash this fellow up into a meat patty. He gritted his teeth, and said, “Very well. If you don’t have money, then pay with your flesh!”
Liu Dali’s face had turned green!
Fang Yuan looked at Fang Ping in astonishment too!
Fang Ping flew into a rage out of humiliation, snapping, “What are you looking at? Write me an IOU of 50 million first. I’ll give you half a million for your annual pay, use it to pay your debts...”
“Fang... Boss Fang, this...”
“Cut the crap. If you don’t want to get beaten to death, then write it sincerely. After writing it, be an honest man and go report yourself at Distance. What perfect timing. I’ve been looking for a hand recently.
“Don’t worry, I, Fang Ping, is not the kind of person who exploits others.
“You only need to work at Distance for a week every month. You can do whatever you want for the rest of the month. I’m a very generous person.
“You work less than three months a year, at annual pay of half a million... If you’re unwilling, I can pay a million too. If that’s still not fine with you, five million. There’s nothing you can say now, right?
“You can pay all your debts back within 10 years. Your monthly payment is nearly 2 million now. Where else can you get a job like this?”
Liu Dali sapped. Though in his heart, he said, ‘Fine. I’ll write it. When I’m done writing, I’ll continue running.’
“Of course, if you think that you can run away after leaving this place, you’re wrong.
With the IOU in my hands, if you run, I’ll have the Department of Investigation Services issue an arrest warrant nationwide. If you run overseas, then I’ll admit that you’re really something. I’ll forget about this debt.”
Liu Dali had given up on all hope!
Did that mean that I really had to work ten years for this fellow all for nothing?
“Do a good job. Don’t worry. If you follow me, Fang Ping, you will definitely get rich.” Fang Ping grinned. “Recently, I discovered a few ways to get rich. As for you, you’re the key.
“Nowadays, smartphones are getting more and more advanced. I’m afraid the use of smartphones to watch videos, movies, and live streams will become a reality soon.
“You’re the pioneer of the industry, whereas I often come across great battles between powerhouses.
“Take the last Peace Bridge battle for example. I was at the scene. Think about it. If I had gotten the footage that time, how much would I earn?
“There are plenty of opportunities like this.
“If you’re truly profiting, maybe I’ll give you some shares, even becoming a big boss yourself.
“Furthermore, I am acquainted with many Grandmasters too. You won’t even be qualified enough to meet some of the Grandmasters. It’s still possible for me. By conducting some interviews, aren’t they all businesses that can make us profits?
“Brother Dali, you’ll choose whether you want to get rich with me or get beaten to death on the spot.”
Liu Dali’s expression was constantly changing. After a while, he said, “Can you really give me shares?”
“Of course. I, Fang Ping, is not the kind of person who is petty.”
Liu Dali laughed dryly. Like I would believe you!
However... If Fang Ping could arrange some Grandmasters for him to interview, even if he was not paid, he could first improve his reputation. In the future, he would not miss out on the opportunity to earn money either.
On the contrary, Fang Ping was pondering. Liu Dali was considered a media person. It seemed like it would not be so bad to open up a media company, it would be useful for stirring interest and whatnot too.