mesbooks Chapter 279 Who is Hinadia...?
Chapter 279 Who is Hinadia...?
"We'll talk about it later, we'll talk about it later... Um, your name is Scudder?"
Song Que's undisguised desire to curry favor with someone powerful, coupled with her "admiring" gaze, made Qiong somewhat unsure how to respond—taking someone who wasn't even her teacher's teacher as her follower? That wouldn't be appropriate!
Therefore, Qiong automatically bypassed the sparrow and ran to the younger version of Scudder.
The Scudder before her was not the disheveled, bearded, black-haired middle-aged man in a suit and tie that Qiong remembered, but a young man with tears streaming down his face—no beard, no tie, and no dark circles under his eyes that he didn't know how he got from staying up all night.
"Yes, my benefactor, you've heard of me?"
After a brief hesitation, Qiong shook her head.
Having survived the ordeal, Scudder began to let his thoughts wander.
"That's true. Why would someone as important as you, a newcomer to the Lamp Organization, pay special attention to me? Bai Shu... are you a member of the Bai family?"
Qiong shook her head again.
"Oh? Isn't that right? Then would you be interested in—"
“Wait, Mr. Scudder, I have something to ask you.”
Who knows what other pointless things Scudder was going to say? Qiong quickly spoke up and took over the initiative.
"My benefactor, ask away! I will answer everything I know!"
"Why don't you tell me how you got targeted by a group of monsters?"
Mentioning this, Scudder glanced at the jade pendant in his hand with lingering fear.
"The Ten Arts War is about to begin, and I wanted to try out the Jade Token's abilities here. But I got too cocky and chose such a dangerous place to train..."
What is the Ten Arts War?
"Nian Gao" asked the same question that Qiong wanted to ask, but Scudder not only did not answer the question, but looked at them with a surprised look.
"The Shadow Serpent controlled by my benefactor can speak? But she doesn't know about the Ten Arts War?"
"Who are you calling a Shadow Snake? You're the Shadow Snake! Remember that, it's Lord Rice Cake!"
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Scudder came here to grind monsters because the Ten Arts War is about to begin.
The so-called Ten Arts War is a grand competition at the level of the entire Luo Star. Because only ten people participated at the beginning, it was named the "Ten Arts War". After the restrictions on participation were lifted, the Ten Arts War has evolved into a popular folk event. Interestingly, the interval between the events has become shorter and shorter. A long time ago, it was held once every few decades, but now, in the thirty-third edition, it has become held once every three years.
Langqiu, originally belonging to Anhe, was the venue for the preliminary rounds of the Ten Arts War, while the finals were held in a city called "Ruimu"...
In addition, all participants receive a jade token, which can enhance a participant's abilities in a certain area, granting them the power of "techniques." After the competition, most of the losers' jade tokens are taken back, and they are disqualified from continuing the competition.
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"So, after you got the jade token, you wanted to practice on the Shadow Monsters. After defeating one or two, you got overconfident and went to the danger zone to fight monsters?"
Qiong couldn't help but give a thumbs up. The young version of Scudder fully deserved the title of "young and impetuous". If it weren't for his good memory, he would never have been able to connect the older brother in front of him with the bearded uncle with a deep and magnetic voice.
Scudder nodded somewhat embarrassedly.
"Yes, I was thinking of practicing a few more times so I could perform better in the Ten Arts War—if I could rank highly in the Ten Arts War, I could keep the jade tablet, officially retain the power of 'Art,' and become an Art like you!"
"Um, I'm not some kind of magic user..."
"If I succeed, I will become truly powerful. Not only can I take my family to the beautiful Ruimu that everyone longs for, but I can also do something for our Langqiu!"
Qiong and "Mochi" listened attentively to Scudder's words—so the reward for the qualifier winner is a trip?
The ambitious young man, Scudder, excitedly showed his wonderful vision to the group, but then immediately became hesitant.
"Who knew the monsters here were so powerful? I had only cleared out a few shadow monsters when a whole bunch of them came... I was almost scared to death. These shadow monsters can eat people! If it weren't for you, my benefactors, appearing, I would have lost my life here."
Looking at the grateful look that Scudder had given her again, Qiong stroked her chin and pondered.
Ten Arts War? I've never heard of that term before, but it sounds interesting.
Furthermore, judging from Scudder's description, this should be a competition where whoever has the strongest fist wins. How much do you think the prize money for this global competition is? Even if we assume the worst, the participants should at least be provided with food and lodging—otherwise, what if someone secretly uses performance-enhancing drugs?
The jade pendant they issued could enhance abilities; it didn't seem simple at all, and might even be beneficial to me...
Qiong was a little interested; he didn't mind participating in the competition happily and winning big prizes with joy.
"Mr. Scudder, what is the prize for winning the Ten Arts War?"
Scudder was both puzzled and excited by Qiong's question.
"Of course it's to make a name for oneself! How can you act like you know nothing about this, benefactor? Everyone knows that the winner of each Ten Arts War is the strongest art, and those arts ultimately receive an audience with the gods in the tower of Rimu, becoming knights of the gods—that's the highest honor!"
"A knight of the gods?!"
Qiong and "Nian Gao" were both taken aback when they heard the words "God's Knight".
The Martian god? Soon, Qiong thought of four words: Hinadia.
As far as I know, Mars will experience a "great collapse" in the future, ultimately leading to the near destruction of its entire civilization... with perhaps only a supercomputer remaining?
Is the Ten Arts War, an event that essentially selects heroes, a means for the Martian gods to recruit talented individuals to fight against the Great Collapse?
"Nian Gao, do you think this 'god' can help us go back?"
"My benefactor, where are you going back to?"
"It's nothing, thank you so much!"
Hearing Qiong's words and seeing his smiling face, Scudder was a little confused: This is something that everyone from eighty-year-old grandmothers to three-year-old children knows, so why is his benefactor so happy?
Scudder couldn't understand how happy Sora was to learn that there was a possibility of returning home besides relying on the unreliable "mochi." In his opinion, Sora was completely out of her mind...
Could it be that my benefactor is a martial arts fanatic? A martial arts fanatic who puts all his skill points into combat? The kind of pathological martial arts fanatic who can't even distinguish the most basic common sense?
"Oh, by the way, isn't your 'god' named Hinadia?"
Qiong sensed that Scudder's grateful gaze inexplicably carried a hint of pity.
"Who is my benefactor, Hinadia...?"
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After repeatedly declining Scudder's invitation to go to the "Zhan's Tea House" next to the "Bai's Medical Clinic" in Amber Street, Scudder repeatedly told him to leave his contact information for the three of them if he needed to contact him, and then left. Originally, Qiong wanted to escort him for a while, but Scudder said that he had already attracted most of the shadow monsters around and Qiong had taken care of them in one go, so it was safe here now...
"Brother Bai Shu, are you going to participate in the Ten Arts War? Um, we're not trying to take advantage of you, we just think you need someone to serve you tea and water..."
Once Scudder left, Pine Sparrow positioned himself as Sky's follower.
Kiana: ...
Why do I suddenly feel that Maria-sensei is so humble? Is this the kind of relationship between Sora and Maria-sensei?
When Song Que rushed up to him to massage his back, Qiong resolutely refused.
"No! No need for 'big brother,' just call me Qiong. Besides, I don't need anyone to serve me tea or water..."
The sparrow was still unwilling to give up.
"Qiong, please take me with you. Although I can't fight, I have a lot of connections and ideas!"
Looking at the expectant pine bird, Qiong smiled.
"I don't need someone to serve me tea and water, but I do need a local friend to guide me."
The pine bird's pitiful appearance immediately turned into cheers and jubilation.
"Alright, leave the guiding to us! Here comes the living map, Song Que!"
Unlike the jubilant pine birds, "Nian Gao" was so dissatisfied that he almost wanted to whip someone with his tail.
"Qiong, I can do it too! I can totally be your guide! You don't need any sparrows or anything like that!"
Overcome its physical fear, the excited sparrow gave "Nian Gao" a hug, patted her head, and tugged at the "red scarf" in front of her.
"You can't say that, Gao Gao. Even if you know the way, do you have any connections? Alright, alright, we'll treat you to some pastries!"
"No way! And don't touch me!"