Chapter 870: Starry Sky Martial Performance Ceremony (33)

Lu Ka hangs his head dejectedly, keeping his head down: "Even if I revive again, I will still lose. If I don't lose today, I'll lose tomorrow. No matter how strong I become, I will eventually lose."

——

The Battle of Twin Cities.

"Lose? What's the big deal? That Breeding Star God was so powerful, yet wasn't it smashed to death by Ke Li Pe San Chui Zi? Even its destiny was diluted? If even a star god can lose, what's the point of humans losing?"

Jin Ke Si sits on a half‑ruined pipe, idly swinging her ponytail: "If you ask me, this kid loses far too little."

"Bao Bao, as long as you're still alive, no one can escape failure. The issue has never been how many times you lose, but winning the final time. As long as you win in the end, the earlier failures are a necessary price." Xi Er Ke sits on a chair, his remaining one eye seriously studying Lu Ka in the sky dome—this young fighter inexplicably reminds him of Wei—Bao Bao's older sister. If possible, he truly wishes to take Lu Ka under his command, wanting to personally guide this confused youth.

Jin Ke Si doesn't know what's going on in Xi Er Ke's mind, her face constantly showing confusion and impatience. Xi Er Ke usually loves scheming; she doesn't understand any talk of "lose or win," she only knows that if anyone makes her lose, she'll blow that person to pieces.

One after another, Bang! Bang! Bang! Take out the judges, take out the opponents, silence the inner demons in her head that keep shouting she'll lose! Finally, that damned arena blows up into the sky! See who can still make her lose!

——

"Haha, that's hilarious, aren't you just spouting nonsense?"

Lu Ka turns his head, staring blankly at Wei Ba Da Ye.

Wei Ba Da Ye talks at length: "You humans are very fragile—of course Suiyang is too, but that's not the point; the point is... life is a ring where defeat is inevitable. Aging, illness, you can't escape them, hehe, each can knock you down. Death then lands the final blow, making you... uh, making your family and friends weep."

Lu Ka still doesn't get it: "But if no matter what the only path is a 'disastrous defeat,' then what counts as a 'win'?"

"Idiot!" Wei Ba Da Ye can't help but scold, "What's the use of asking others about this? Isn't it up to you to decide?"

"I... don't understand..."

Wei Ba, furious to the point of steam from his seven orifices, says: "You're dead stupid! I'm going to ask you a question, answer it properly—your little fan—Ma Ji, she fought illness her whole life and never overcame it. Tell me, did she lose?"

Lu Ka lowers his gaze, grits his teeth: "... She lost."

"But she worked hard at everything she should, constantly punching at the disease... one punch after another; she's the best fighter! In my heart, Ma Ji won! She won beautifully!"

"Aren't you understanding it perfectly? The arena has win‑lose standards. But judging this life, we are the only ones qualified." Wei Ba stares seriously at him, "Lu Ka, the important thing is to throw the next punch!"

——

A Certain Scientific Railgun.

Wei Ba Da Ye really would make a great psychologist; his talk‑therapy skill is top‑notch.

Shi Chun Shi Li can't help but admire; although Wei Ba Da Ye looks a bit fierce usually, one must admit that deep down (if Suiyang even has bones) he's a very gentle Suiyang.

Of course, with Wei Ba Da Ye's somewhat tsundere personality, he'd probably never admit it even if beaten to death.

"After all, this is Suiyang's millennia‑old wisdom," Zuo Tian Ze Zi lies on the desk, saying lightly, "I hope Lu Ka can grow from this. The competition of the Martial Performance Ceremony is barely halfway, and all kinds of setbacks have already been endless. Honestly, I can't imagine what bizarre opponents lie ahead."

The final enemy is Yan Qing, but Yan Qing might be knocked out midway by other masters. Lu Ka rallying with Wei Ba Da Ye's help is indeed good, but Ze Zi still hopes he can re‑modify that mechanical arm, at least adding some ranged heat weapons.

In the latter half of the Martial Performance Ceremony, the muscle‑and‑sword fundamentalist contestants have likely been mostly filtered out; the ones who can stand out now are surely a horde of demons and monsters. If Lu Ka still relies only on a single mechanical arm, it just doesn't look impressive enough.

——

"The important thing... is always to throw the next punch! Thank you, Wei Ba Da Ye—"

Seeing Lu Ka has rallied again, Wei Ba can only earnestly advise him to take part in the revival match properly; after Wei Ba leaves his body, Lu Ka rubs his eyes, feeling everything before him become clear again.

"Miss Ka Mei Li, Star Coach, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have given up so easily."

Ka Mei Li hasn't yet figured out what just happened; in her view, Lu Ka seemed to change his mind in an instant.

"Contestant Lu Ka, what's wrong with you?"

"Did you figure it out?"

Lu Ka plants both hands on his hips: "I've decided, I'm entering the popularity revival match, returning to the Martial Performance Ceremony arena!"

After the treatment wraps up, Xing sends Huo Huo and Wei Ba to the entrance of the Battlecruiser. As they leave, Huo Huo suddenly turns, a look of unbearable discomfort on his face: "Ugh... Keeping this secret is killing me, Xing, I have to confess to you, actually Wei Ba Da Ye this time..."

Wei Ba snaps instantly: "How dare you!"

"Huo Huo, speak boldly!"

"Uwu... Wei Ba Da Ye! I'm sorry! Actually it's because Wei Ba Da Ye really enjoys watching contestant Lu Ka fight."

"You brat! This sense of secrecy acts like a judge! Fine, we'll settle it when we get back." Wei Ba sighs, "In short, that's exactly what you heard. You better be a good coach for me, make that kid win a few clean matches, understand?"

——

Genshin Impact.

"So Wei Ba Da Ye is really Lu Ka's fan!" Paimon exclaims with wide eyes, "He hides so deep! Twisted around a huge circle! Honestly, he could've just said it outright!"

"Fans...?"

Zi Bai, who is eating together, tries to pick up a fish ball with chopsticks, but after hearing Paimon's speech, the fish ball slips away from her chopsticks. She looks up confused: "... Isn't that just a kind of food? Could Suiyang be turned into something like a fan, a food, that Lu Ka could eat?"

"Ah, no, no, Sister Zi Bai." Lu Xiangxiang at the same table quickly gestures, earnestly explaining: "The word 'fan' can also mean a devotee of a person or thing... generally, if you hold strong affection and attention toward someone, you can be called that person's fan."