Chapter 101: Fierce Battle Unfolds [Highly Recommended: Thirteen Explosive Chapters]

The competition for the quarterfinals on June 20th was intense, and the semifinals on the 25th were even fiercer. Both the quarterfinals and semifinals were held at the headquarters of Hongyu Internet Café, though they didn’t require as much manpower and fanfare as the grand finals. There were no live audiences, only a panel of judges.

However, many people still gathered outside the entrance of Hongyu Internet Café to cheer on the contestants, since each player almost always had their signature game character. Some favored Kyo, others preferred Iori, some picked Chin Gohan, and others chose Clark.

As a result, fans of Kyo formed the “Kyo Squad,” gathering outside the café, waving flags and posting banners in support of contestants using Kyo.

Similarly, groups like the “Iori Fans Club,” “Red Daimon,” “Rogue Chin,” and “Steamed Bun Guy” emerged, growing larger by the day. The café’s entrance became a lively scene every day.

This kept Police Chief Kong Lei quite busy. While the crowds and chants brought energy, there was always the risk that friction could spark between the groups, possibly erupting into a brawl—something that would be hard to control.

Fortunately, Yang Tian managed things well. Besides the contestants, the cheering fans were treated to free drinks. Everyone sat under large sun umbrellas, sipping iced cola and munching on snacks, which helped cool down their restlessness and brought calm to the atmosphere.

Though the number of people was large and the consumption of drinks and snacks high, Hongyu Internet Café didn’t suffer any losses, as all these refreshments were sponsored.

From the quarterfinals to the semifinals, the battles grew increasingly fierce. Yang Tian was both surprised and pleased to see that Zhao Shilei, nicknamed “Green Onion,” had made it to the semifinals. His favorite character was Kyo, which suited his sly demeanor perfectly.

But another contestant who used Chin Gohan was also exceptionally strong. His name was Ma Wei, known as “Rogue Chin.” He had mastered Chin Gohan’s “Devastating Throw” to near perfection and was virtually unstoppable on the stage. With many fans rallying behind Rogue Chin, Ma Wei quickly became the top favorite to win the championship.

Zhao Shilei lamented that he hadn’t yet faced Ma Wei in the semifinals, though he had considerable support himself—after all, Kyo was just as popular as Rogue Chin.

As fate would have it, both Ma Wei and Zhao Shilei advanced to the semifinals, where it was highly likely they would face off for the championship and the title of Supreme King of Fighters.

Ma Wei was a student at Second High School, terrible at academics but excellent at gaming. He was determined to claim the championship and had already boasted privately that no one in the entire competition could match him.

Hearing this, the competitive Zhao Shilei grew furious. Every day after school, he went straight to the internet café to practice, determined to defeat Ma Wei and seize the championship.

“Zhao Shilei, you’d better focus on your studies. These competitions are about participation, not obsession. The final exams are just a few days away—you can’t afford to fail all your subjects!” Yang Tian, Chen Ming, and the others were dining at Angel’s small food stall again. They often came to eat and help out, especially during the off-season to boost the stall’s income.

“I won’t study unless I first crush Ma Wei. I won’t even think about studying! I refuse to believe Kyo can’t beat Rogue Chin!” Zhao Shilei ate dumplings heartily, his face full of anger and determination, his eyes still red from late-night gaming practice.

“Yang Tian, it’s your fault—a promising young man is being ruined by games!” Zhang Yunxiang sighed.

“Young people should fight hard. Passion isn’t a bad thing. If everyone just lived quietly and obediently, the world would be colorless,” Yang Tian said softly with a smile.

“Exactly! Rather than bottling it all up, it’s better to fight wholeheartedly. Everyone must support me—I will definitely defeat Ma Wei. I’m not just representing myself; I represent Kyo, I represent First High School. This is a battle between Kyo and Rogue Chin, and between First and Second High Schools!” Zhao Shilei finished eating quickly and rushed back to the internet café to practice hard.

“To be passionate about something—that’s a kind of happiness,” Huang Juan sighed, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Zhao Shilei’s retreating figure.

“Heh, everyone has their own passion. For example, Chen Ming is always focused on studying, you consistently like cleanliness and enjoy plum powder, Angel is always attentive to her family, and Zhang Yunxiang buys a copy of ‘Reference News’ every day. These are all forms of passion, a kind of lifestyle,” Yang Tian reflected. Before his rebirth, he rarely noticed such daily details—or paid attention to those around him. Looking back now, he felt regret, because the people around him were so rich and vibrant, making his life more flavorful.

Hearing this, Huang Juan and Chen Ming were momentarily stunned before nodding thoughtfully.

Back at Hongyu Internet Café, the semifinals and finals were also hot topics of discussion, but their perspective differed from that of Zhao Shilei and his circle.

“Brother Tian, you’re just in time. I have an idea. Given the current competition, the finals will definitely be exciting. Both Ma Wei and Zhao Shilei are strong favorites with lots of support. Why don’t we act as bookmakers, letting the audience bet on who will win, and then pay out proportionally? What do you think? We’d make a fortune!” Zhou Bing greeted Yang Tian cheerfully. The tournament had brought great energy to the café, and smiles were everywhere.

“That’s a good idea. Bookmakers never lose. After making some money, we can even distribute dividends!” A Gui, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, blew out thick smoke, grinning widely.

“Don’t ask me about this—go ask the boss!” Yang Tian gave Zhou Bing and A Gui a sharp look. He was all for gaming competitions but had no interest in gambling. If he wanted easy money, he wouldn’t have started from an internet café; he could have gone straight to arcade or gambling machines. But such a life held little meaning for him. After reliving his life, he did not want to repeat pointless, harmful actions.

Hearing this, Zhou Bing and A Gui understood clearly. Yang Tian was the final authority in the café, and telling them to ask Zhang Zhi was a clear no. They exchanged knowing looks and stuck out their tongues in acknowledgment. They dared not proceed with anything Yang Tian disapproved of.

In truth, they also knew that betting on such a major event was reckless. With the semifinals and finals approaching, they should focus their energy on preparation and consider the long-term impact of the tournament on Hongyu Internet Café, rather than ruining the tone and quality of the competition for short-term profit.