Chapter 855: Stellar Martial Performance Ceremony (18)

""What does this mean?""

"Lu Ka explained: "Miss Tuopa said our next opponent—Shuo Jin—is good at using off‑stage tricks. This is probably his handiwork.""

"Xing Qiang, suppressing his anger, said: "I'll go demand an explanation right now.""

"Ka Mei Li quickly reached out to stop her: "Honestly, facing the raging public opinion, an individual has no particularly good way to cope... I'll first try to find someone to dispel the rumors... but the speed of dispelling can never match the speed of spreading—he's exploiting that to try to drown you in public opinion.""

"Lu Ka rubbed his head, feeling a buzzing in his skull for a moment: "Sigh... it's a real headache. But it doesn't matter; as long as I defeat Shuo Jin honorably on the arena, the audience will naturally know everything he said was a lie.""

""Lu Ka, the contestant... things may not go as smoothly as you think. Once a negative impression forms, it's not so easy to recover...""

""Alright, Miss Ka Mei Li, don't be so pessimistic. Lu Ka isn't so easily knocked down by off‑stage tricks. Everything will get better." Lu Ka took a deep breath and returned to his usual optimistic demeanor, "I'll go get some fresh air and discuss this later when I come back.""

"When Lu Ka entered the athletes' hall, the nearby people kept a uniform distance from him, as if fearing to get too close, as though in an instant he had turned from a star‑attracting contestant into a despicable scoundrel everyone despised."

"However, Lu Ka didn't care at first."

"(Trying to knock me down with gossip? How laughable! No matter how harsh the words, can they be harder than a fist?)"

"He kept walking forward, and the spectators along the aisles began to whisper."

""Look... isn't that Lu Ka?""

""It really is Lu Ka... I used to be his fan!""

""Haha, now your fondness for Lu Ka has become your 【record】!""

"Lu Ka subconsciously furrowed his brows, but he still took a deep breath and kept walking forward."

""I think he's not evil, just simply stupid. He's from a small place, a martial background, probably not very cultured.""

""Stupid is evil! What's the difference between the two?""

"Lu Ka finally couldn't stand it and stepped up to the two, interrupting: "Friends, have I offended you? Is it necessary to speak so harshly?""

""Oops! He heard, run!""

"Lu Ka tried to communicate with them, but they blinked and slipped away."

""Don't go! Let's have a proper chat!""

"——"

"Demon Slayer."

""Why are these people attacking Mr. Lu Ka so much? He clearly hasn't done anything wrong!""

"Even though separated by the sky‑curtain, Tan Zhi Lang could still hear their whispers, the deliberately hushed snickers, insults and mockery. Tan Zhi Lang lowered his head, and a surge of anger made his chest feel tight."

"Do these people lack the ability to discern right from wrong?"

""If all the trouble stems from that article, the problem becomes easy to solve!" Yi Zhi Shou raised his Nichirin Blade, exaggeratedly waving it in the air, "Just find that Shuo Jin guy, give him a good beating, maybe even punch his teeth out, then press his head and force him to apologize to Lu Ka in front of everyone!""

""Doesn't that method just cement the rumor further?" Shan Yi shook his head, "... That guy must know Mr. Lu Ka wouldn't do that, which is why he released the article. Hmm... if his target for the rumor is Mr. Bo Tuo, the scenario you expect could actually happen.""

"Mentioning Bo Tuo made Tan Zhi Lang's eyes light up instantly."

"Right! Mr. Bo Tuo is also attending this performance ceremony, even serving as the ring master! If we inform him, with his wandering sea‑ranger philosophy, he wouldn't stand by idly!"

"The reason Shuo Jin dares to spread rumors so casually is, at its core, because he has investigated Lu Ka thoroughly and knows he is a boxer from a remote planet who abides by the Celestial Ship's rules. But Bo Tuo cares not about any of that; he only upholds inner justice. As long as Shuo Jin is handed over to him, Tan Zhi Lang believes that within a day he could see Shuo Jin meekly apologizing."

"——"

""Isn't that Lu Ka?""

""Really... have you heard about that incident?""

""Never thought Lu Ka was like that, such a good disguise!""

""Lu Ka Lu Ka Lu Ka Lu Ka!""

""Withdraw, withdraw, withdraw...""

"Passersby who saw Lu Ka walking toward them quickly kept their distance, then discussed him in a more hidden corner."

""Why is everyone talking about me... what did I actually do wrong?""

"Lu Ka couldn't understand at all; he painfully covered his head, and for a moment felt his skull split open, the gossip turning into countless fine needles that pierced his eardrums, stabbing and stirring his brain wildly. All his effort, sweat, fairness... the things that formed his values were being rapidly dissolved by the maliciousness of countless spectators."

"In a daze, he seemed to enter a hallucinatory space; Lu Ka knew that strange vision had come for him again. Countless eyes stared at him from above, countless mouths faced him, all speaking simultaneously, their voices overlapping, yet he could still discern each sentence."

""Lu Ka, how much money did the company actually give you? Tell everyone, will you?""

""I didn't take a single cent from the company; I refused!" Lu Ka kept pounding his head, responding in pain."

""The Strategic Investment Department has always had a covetous eye on Bei Luo Bo Ge; Lu Ka, are you also planning to profit from this?""

""Nonsense! I have not the slightest disloyalty toward Bei Luo Bo Ge!""

""Hehe, unfortunately no one will believe you. They will only believe the truth I convey to them." Suddenly, Lu Ka vaguely saw a silhouette ahead; the figure wore sunglasses and strolled leisurely toward him."

""Are you... Shuo Jin?""

""Nice to meet you. We should meet again on the arena later... or perhaps you intend to be sensible and withdraw now?""

"——"

"Black Robe Riot Squad."

"When he witnessed the countless voices in the sky‑curtain surrounding Lu Ka, the people of the motherland first felt not anger."

"A more primitive, colder sensation began crawling up his spine. Those whispers were like incessant maggots, constantly gnawing at his marrow."

"The edges of his vision began to redden."

"Scorching energy began to converge and flare uncontrollably in his eyes, the room's temperature seemed to rise several degrees in an instant, and he vaguely heard Ai Shi Li beside him holding her breath, the sound of her inhalation, and the tick of cold sweat sliding across her forehead."