Ch. 249 - The Match Is Over — Why Still Eat?

Chen Shu's trio finally departed the Spirit Fighting Arena.

They had also received the Beast Taming Competition's championship prizes: 100 million yuan in cash and three Custom Skill qualifications.

The cash prize had been distributed on the spot. The skills could be claimed at any time by reporting to the local government, at which point the necessary Lord Materials would be delivered.

The group headed to a restaurant. Despite keeping as low a profile as possible, they were still recognized immediately.

The owner insisted on comping their entire meal. Chen Shu, alternating between hinting and politely refusing, ultimately "helplessly" freeloaded a feast.[1]

"Congratulations to the three of you on successfully seizing the championship for Nanjiang City!"

Shen Wushuang offered his sincere congratulations. The facts had proven his judgment correct.

Though Chen Shu kept probing the limits of courting death, he did, at minimum, possess genuine ability.

That trophy alone was enough to justify every resource Nanjiang Second High had spent.

Shen Wushuang drained his glass in one go, then spoke up: "By the way, how are you planning to split the prizes?"

"Let's split the cash evenly, one Custom Skill qualification each."

Chen Shu spoke up. Greedy as he was, even he wasn't shameless enough to take it all.

Xia Bing and Xu Xiaoyu had both pulled their weight. With him alone, there was no way he could have won the championship.

"You keep the cash. We'll each take one Custom Skill slot."

Xia Bing and Xu Xiaoyu exchanged a look and pushed the money straight back at him.

The Custom Skill qualifications alone were priceless — far beyond what Huaxia currency could measure.

After some discussion, the final split was: Chen Shu took 50 million yuan and one Custom Skill slot.

Chen Shu asked: "What skills are you planning to customize?"

Xu Xiaoyu answered: "I'm not customizing one. I need to repay my family's debt."

"Repay debt? Isn't your family the 666 Potion Company? How could you guys be broke?"

Chen Shu's expression froze. Already fallen on hard times?

Xu Xiaoyu shook her head and explained: "For this competition, our family spent nearly 200 million Huaxia yuan."

"No way."

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow, and his mind immediately jumped to a conclusion: "Your family bribed the officials?"

"??"

Three sets of eyes swung toward him simultaneously. You really have the fucking audacity to suggest that.

This was a provincial-level competition, organized by the Nancang provincial government, broadcast live the entire time nationwide. Who would dare rig something like this?!

"She bought skills."

Shen Wushuang spoke up: "Otherwise — did you think an A-rank contract spirit could hold out that long?"

Chen Shu paused. The Fire Bird's performance had been utterly decisive in the finals.

"Teacher Shen anticipated that Nancang First High would target your Slime. He had me purchase skills specifically to handle that crisis."

Xu Xiaoyu spoke, a trace of admiration in her eyes.

Shen Wushuang hadn't become the special training class teacher for nothing — he genuinely had some tricks up his sleeve.

Truly, as virtue rose one foot, the demon rose ten.[2]

Xu Xiaoyu continued: "For a single pseudo-Overlord Body skill, my family spent almost 100 million yuan. Plus two more speed skills for survival — another 30 million."

Custom Skills cost roughly just over 100 million apiece, since they were restricted to Gold-rank and below — meaning they could only grant Silver Lord skills.

Silver Lord materials cost in the low tens of millions; rare skills might run up to around 20 million. Generally, around five materials were enough for a successful skill acquisition.

Chen Shu's expression froze. He hadn't realized Xu Xiaoyu had gone so all-in.

If they hadn't won the championship, it would have been an absolute bloodbath.

In the end, the Fire Bird had relied entirely on its innate talent Unyielding, the pseudo-Overlord Body skill Extreme Tenacity, and its two speed skills to drag things out for five full minutes.

True, it had faced a three-way encirclement by S-rank contract spirits — but the Purple Thunder Beast and Ice-Horn Deer couldn't match its speed, and as ground types, they posed little threat.

The main pursuer at the time had been the Shadow Blood-Eye Bird.

Even so, the Fire Bird's performance had shaken everyone. Surviving a direct pursuit from an S-rank contract spirit — it had brought genuine glory to A-rank spirits everywhere.

"Teacher Shen's incredible."

Chen Shu hadn't realized Shen Wushuang had been the one orchestrating everything.

Shen Wushuang shook his head. "What did you think I came to Nancang City for?"

"Wasn't it to persuade me to turn myself in?"

"......"

Shen Wushuang coughed. "Persuading you to surrender was Goal Number One. Goal Number Two was serving as your strategist."

"Teacher Shen, why didn't you give my Slime any pointers?"

Chen Shu now had over 100 million yuan in his account. Cultivating a basic-level contract spirit was a complete non-issue.

"Give me a break."

Shen Wushuang clicked his tongue. "Your damn Slime — I can't even make sense of what I'm looking at. What the hell am I supposed to advise?"

The image of an F-rank slime chasing and beating two S-rank contract spirits had already spread across the entire province. Any expert shown that scene would walk away utterly bewildered...

The four ate and drank their fill, then returned to the hotel to pack.

With the college entrance exam fast approaching, they naturally needed to get back to Nanjiang City as soon as possible.

Early the next morning.

Chen Shu's phone rang. Looking at the screen — it was Xie Fengyu from Nancang First High.

"Hello? Chen Shu, want to grab dinner tonight?"

Chen Shu rubbed his sleepy eyes and answered directly: "The match is already over. Why the hell would we still eat?"[3]

This had been supposed to be a match they'd breeze through.

It was Nancang First High's uncooperative behavior that had nearly caused an upset.

NOW you want to eat? Too late!

Having said his piece, he hung up without another word...

Xie Fengyu was left completely baffled. What was THAT supposed to mean?

Two days ago, you'd been so incredibly warm and friendly. Today, you were suddenly completely distant?

Whatever happened to friendship first, competition second?!

......

That afternoon, the four arrived back in Nanjiang City.

"Ah! That familiar smell!"

Chen Shu spread his arms wide and took a deep breath.

The moment he returned to his hometown, his bandit instincts kicked right in — he couldn't help wanting to blow something up...

"Welcome home, champions!"

Just then, outside the train station, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted.

Hundreds of people had long since lined up, waiting for them. The surrounding area was packed with citizens, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the champions.

Chen Shu immediately spotted a massive banner reading: "Congratulations to the Nanjiang Second High Team on Winning the Championship!"

At the front of the crowd stood Mayor Zhou, with various government heavyweights arrayed behind him and the principals of all the local schools in attendance as well.

"Champions! Champions!"

Every face was alight with excitement, all eyes fixed on Chen Shu's group.

"A brazenly simple little thing, that's all!"[4]

Chen Shu waved it off and, with the utmost humility, walked up before them all.

Mayor Zhou's eyes were filled with pride and satisfaction as he smiled and said: "Nanjiang City is proud of you!"

Shen Wushuang and the others were all visibly moved — they were practically feeling like heroes returning home in glory.

Chen Shu, on the other hand, sidled closer. Eyebrow raised, hands rubbing together, he asked:

"So, Mayor — how about tossing us a few tens of millions? A hundred million, maybe?"

Staring at his greed-stricken face, frantically dropping hints —

Everyone's mouths twitched in unison. So THIS was what a Nancang Province champion looked like...

"Glory is always priceless!"

The mayor coughed and did not engage further with Chen Shu.

If this guy latched on, even the city government would have a hell of a time.

"Welcome, champions! Welcome, champions!"

The surrounding citizens cheered, escorting Chen Shu and company all the way back to the school.

Shen Wushuang and the two girls were deeply moved, even a bit overwhelmed by the reception.

Chen Shu, however, looked distinctly disinterested. No bonus money? What was all this pretentious pomp and ceremony for?

......

That evening, with the college entrance exam approaching, the crowd dispersed — no one dared to disturb Chen Shu's group from their exam review.

The Second High principal was beaming ear to ear. Just yesterday, the Ministry of Education had held a meeting, explicitly stating that they would increase support for Nanjiang Second High next year.

That one sentence alone made him feel like everything had been worth it!

During evening self-study, the principal convened a school-wide assembly, lavishing high praise on Chen Shu and his team's performance.

Naturally, in order to protect the school's image, he did not let Chen Shu take the podium to speak...

[1] 白嫖 (báipiáo): Internet slang literally meaning "to freeload." Originally crude slang (evading payment for sex work), it evolved through idol fandom (enjoying content without spending money) to become general internet shorthand for obtaining anything for free through shamelessness or loophole exploitation. The scare quotes on "helplessly" carry the meaning — Chen Shu performed reluctance while clearly angling for exactly this outcome.

[2] 道高一尺，魔高一丈 (dào gāo yī chǐ, mó gāo yī zhàng): A Buddhist-origin idiom meaning "The Way grows one foot, the demon grows ten feet." Originally a warning that spiritual progress invites proportionally greater obstacles (one chi = ~1 foot, one zhang = 10 chi). In modern usage, it describes an escalating arms race — as one side makes a move, the opposing side counters with something even bigger. Here, it's applied with rich irony: the "demon" is Shen Wushuang, a teacher and authority figure, who out-schemed Nancang First High's anti-Chen-Shu strategy by secretly having Xu Xiaoyu prepare countermeasures.

[3] 比赛都结束了，还吃什么吃？: In Chinese culture, sharing a post-competition meal with opponents is a standard social ritual reflecting the sportsmanship slogan 友谊第一，比赛第二 (friendship first, competition second). Chen Shu's brutal rejection — "The match is already over, why would we still eat together?" — reveals his purely transactional approach to relationships. He was warm before the match because the connection was strategically useful; once he won, the meal had zero value to him.

[4] 敢敢单单 (gǎn gǎn dān dān): A deliberate internet slang variant of 简简单单 (simple, no big deal), replacing 简 (simple) with 敢 (dare, bold). The resulting word means "daringly simple" — Chen Shu's way of feigning humility while his word choice reveals his characteristic shameless bravado.