Chapter 68: Did They Throw the Match?

The sunglasses in front of her had a trendy design, a striking color, and a naturally sweet, energetic vibe.

They did look like an eye-catching pair of sunglasses.

But they wouldn't really suit Fire-Tooth Dog if it wore them.

Because they were a pair of heart-shaped pink sunglasses.

Qiao Sang was silent for a moment, then politely declined: "Better not. You saw it yourself—Fire-Tooth Dog's sunglasses from the last match got wrecked that badly. If it broke yours too during the finals, that wouldn't be good."

"Tooth."

Fire-Tooth Dog nodded rapidly and stretched out a paw to show off its battered red sunglasses.

Song Yuan smiled and said, "Our sunglasses' frames are made from the claws of a Hard-Claw Lizard. I won't speak for other competitions, but for a tournament at the level of the Baixin Competition, they can absolutely handle it."

"I know what you're worried about, but trust my eye for business. It's like a soft girl riding a motorcycle, or a stoic guy hitting the nightclub—that contrast is what really draws people in."

That actually sounded pretty reasonable.

Qiao Sang was almost persuaded—she had to hand it to a businessperson.

But Fire-Tooth Dog was clearly so against it that Qiao Sang felt she should still respect its opinion.

"This probably isn't right for Fire-Tooth Dog…"

"If Fire-Tooth Dog can wear them during the finals, even if our collaboration talks fall through later, I'll pay you an extra fee on top of it—starting at five figures." Song Yuan spread out her five fingers.

"It couldn't be more suitable." Qiao Sang continued.

"Tooth?"

……

Inside the competitor's lounge.

Wei Wenya sat on the sofa while a blue duck-shaped beast on the floor did one-armed push-ups.

"Dad, is everything you said true?"

"Of course. Your uncle personally placed the prize. Would I lie to you?" the man sitting beside her on the sofa replied.

He had a slicked-back hairstyle, wore a black formal suit, his leather shoes polished to a high shine, and was slouched on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other—the very image of a business elite.

"But won't it be discovered that your sister-in-law appraised an A-rank water-type evolution stone as D-rank at the appraisal office?" Wei Wenya asked worriedly.

"Your sister-in-law is a veteran appraiser—no one will suspect her. Besides, she handled the whole thing herself; no one else was involved." the man said unhurriedly.

"Then can we talk to the organizers and swap the prizes for first and second place? Otherwise, losing on purpose to a junior high graduate in front of so many people would be so embarrassing." Wei Wenya whined.

"You need to understand, what matters now isn't the ranking or face, but Force-Head Duck's future growth. Once we have this water-type evolution stone, Dad will find a way to get you a bottle of high-purity Jade-Green Water."

"Once Force-Head Duck evolves into a high-level beast, you'll have a shot at making the Yongda school team."

"Besides, the kid you're facing next has already beaten that Hou Xiangyu. Even if you lose, it won't be that embarrassing." the man said patiently.

"I got it." Wei Wenya conceded.

The father-daughter conversation didn't affect Force-Head Duck, which kept doing one-armed push-ups without pause.

……

"Ladies and gentlemen! We've finally reached the finals of our Baixin Competition! Let's welcome competitors Wei Wenya and Qiao Sang, who fought their way here through several days of competition!" the announcer said with great passion.

As the background music played, Qiao Sang appeared on the arena with Fire-Tooth Dog.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Fire-Tooth Dog! Fire-Tooth Dog!"

"Qiao Sang! Qiao Sang!"

"Fire-Tooth Dog! Fire-Tooth… huh?"

The cheering audience hesitated as they looked at Fire-Tooth Dog making its entrance.

Why were the sunglasses Fire-Tooth Dog was wearing different from usual?

On the big screen, Fire-Tooth Dog was shown with a cold expression, wearing a pair of pink heart-shaped sunglasses that completely clashed with its image.

Don't say it.

The visual impact was intense.

Truly worthy of being the beginner beast that beat Jin Chengxi's companion.

So unique!

"Fire-Tooth Dog! Fire-Tooth Dog!"

On the field.

Fire-Tooth Dog struggled to suppress the corners of its mouth from curling up.

Its beast tamer really hadn't lied to it.

Wearing these sunglasses, it looked devastatingly handsome.

Normally, when would they ever chant for it like that?

Looks like human aesthetics were different from its own.

When the background music stopped, Wei Wenya formed hand seals and Volt-Stubborn Cat appeared on the field.

Qiao Sang was a little surprised.

Wei Wenya was someone she had noticed on the first day of the competition and noted in her memo.

She naturally knew Wei Wenya also had a water-type beast, Force-Head Duck.

She hadn't expected her opponent to send out a beast that wasn't type-advantageous against her.

Probably figured it wasn't necessary…

After all, aside from defense, Volt-Stubborn Cat surpassed Fire-Tooth Dog in every other aspect.

As the referee's whistle sounded, Volt-Stubborn Cat opened its mouth and cried out, its curled tail straightening at the same time.

A blinding bolt of lightning suddenly appeared from the sky and struck toward the spot where the Fire Fang Dog was.

The Fire Fang Dog's figure flickered, and it quickly split into 8, surrounding and attacking the Electric Stubborn Cat from different directions.

The two Fire Fang Dogs charging from the front instantly dissipated under the lightning's attack, vanishing without a trace.

The remaining 6 Fire Fang Dogs continued their encirclement attack.

When they were about to reach the Electric Stubborn Cat, the 6 Fire Fang Dogs simultaneously wrapped their fangs in flames, ready to pounce and bite.

"Dodge, quick!" Wei Wenya commanded rapidly.

If it got bitten, this match might as well be over.

She was prepared to lose, but she wanted to lose on her own terms, not be truly defeated.

The Electric Stubborn Cat's speed had always been its advantage.

But the Fire Fang Dogs were approaching in an encirclement formation.

Hearing her beast-tamer's command, the Electric Stubborn Cat looked around, momentarily unsure where to dodge. After hesitating for a moment, it could only jump upward, trying to leap out of the encirclement.

The Electric Stubborn Cat had strong jumping power, and this leap almost let it escape.

Unfortunately, one Fire Fang Dog jumped onto another's back and leaped forcefully, its flame-wrapped fangs sinking into the Electric Stubborn Cat's tail and dragging it to the ground.

Then the remaining Fire Fang Dogs instantly pounced and bit the Electric Stubborn Cat all over.

"Stubborn!!!"

The Electric Stubborn Cat let out a miserable shriek.

When the surrounding Fire Fang Dogs dispersed, the Electric Stubborn Cat had already closed its eyes and fainted.

The referee was stunned for a long moment.

He couldn't believe the finals had ended so quickly.

He came back to his senses, walked over to the Electric Stubborn Cat, and after checking, finally confirmed the match was truly over.

"The winner is contestant Qiao Sang."

A wave of sighs rose from the audience.

"This is the finals?"

"It wasn't even as exciting as the semifinals."

"It wasn't even as exciting as the beast performer's show."

"What was that Electric Stubborn Cat dodging at the end? It has stronger attack power than the Fire Fang Dog, why didn't it just use Thunder to break out directly?"

Qiao Sang had the same question.

Wei Wenya, as a contestant who had won by direct crushing just like Hou Xiangyu, shouldn't be at this level.

Back when Wei Wenya sent out her Electric Stubborn Cat, it would always take down opponents with one Thunder or one Electric Shock, with nothing after that.

So Qiao Sang couldn't really judge her strength.

After her match with Hou Xiangyu, she had always placed Wei Wenya's strength on the same level as Hou Xiangyu's.

But this…

Did she throw the match?

……

The corridor from the Beast Arena to the medical room.

"Daughter, I told you to lose on purpose, but isn't this losing a bit too fast?" the man in formal attire said with a serious expression.

Wei Wenya: "……"