A dark expression fell over Yu Xiaogang's face. The man who had given him such a scare was nothing more than a common ticket scalper from the Great Spirit Arena. He was familiar with their kind. They haunted the streets and alleys near the arena all day long, mysteriously appearing and disappearing as they peddled their tickets. They specifically targeted newcomers or impatient fans, selling tickets for slightly cheaper than the official booths.
Yu Xiaogang casually wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. For a moment there, the scalper had genuinely startled him.
"What 'exciting program' are you talking about?" he asked.
He had originally planned to ignore the man and leave, but he had a nagging feeling that the "show" the scalper was referring to had something to do with Tang San. Although these scalpers appeared to be in competition with the official ticket office, Yu Xiaogang knew that the two sides often cooperated in secret. The network and resources these scalpers had were far greater than most people imagined. The publicity they could generate was sometimes even more effective than specialized advertisements. He suspected this was the "publicity" the arena manager had mentioned earlier—spreading news through the city's most effective gossips.
"Listen, I can't speak for what's happening more than a few miles away," the scalper began, puffing out his chest. "But when it comes to news about the Soto Great Spirit Arena, I, Zhao Laosi, am the most informed man in the city!"
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang was interested, the scalper, Zhao Laosi, immediately perked up, his sales pitch kicking into high gear.
"And let me tell you, this news is an exclusive! It hasn't even been officially announced yet!" he boasted proudly. He was telling the truth, but it was only thanks to the connections he had inside the arena. Just five minutes ago, he had dispatched more than twenty of his underlings to spread out in all directions from the arena. If everything went according to plan, he was going to make a fortune tonight. The news he had was just that shocking, and he was sure countless people would be interested.
"Are you going to tell me or not? If you're just going to waste my time, I'm leaving," Yu Xiaogang said, his face a mask of impatience. He knew that eighty percent of what came out of a scalper's mouth was usually a lie. Trusting them was like trusting a fox to guard a henhouse.
"Hey, don't be in such a hurry!" Zhao Laosi grinned, revealing a set of large, yellow teeth. "On a normal day, I'd tell you the news for free. But not today. Today's news is premium." He leaned in closer. "Look, since it's our first time doing business, I'll give you a deal. Thirty percent off. You buy from me, and you're guaranteed to make a profit on the savings! Two tickets means you're practically getting one for half price! You buy the tickets, and I'll tell you the news. How about it?"
Yu Xiaogang was momentarily stunned by the man's professional-sounding rhetoric. Even Tang San, who was listening quietly, felt a strange urge to buy two tickets.
"What? You don't trust me?" Zhao Laosi asked, feigning offense. "Go on, ask anyone around here about Zhao Laosi's reputation. It's a one-hundred-percent positive review rate! I'm as honest as they come!"
Worn down by the relentless pitch, Yu Xiaogang waved his hands in surrender. "Fine. Give me two."
The tickets scalpers sold were always for the ordinary seats, as VIPs would never buy from them anyway. To Yu Xiaogang, the cost of two common tickets was trivial. He just needed to know if this man's information was really about Tang San.
"I have to say, sir, you have a good eye for business!" Zhao Laosi beamed, pulling two tickets from his small leather bag. "Thirty percent off! You're really getting a steal!"
Yu Xiaogang took the tickets, handed over the money, and asked again, "Now, can you tell me the news?"
"Of course!" Zhao Laosi looked around cautiously, making sure no one else was listening. He then cupped his hand to his mouth, lowered his voice, and prepared to speak.
The scalper's dramatic behavior had piqued their curiosity. Despite themselves, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San both leaned in closer, their anticipation growing.
"I take it you two just came from inside the Great Spirit Arena?" Zhao Laosi whispered, his expression full of mystery.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San nodded, their patience wearing thin. What is this guy trying to say? Can't he just get to the point?
"It seems you two are regulars, so I'll be frank," Zhao Laosi said, organizing his thoughts. "Today, a truly unique talent appeared in the Great Spirit Arena. Have you heard about it?"
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's brow twitched. Could he be talking about Tang San?
As for Tang San, he didn't dare to speak. He was terrified of becoming the subject of the very gossip he was hearing. It wouldn't be the first time. If his expression gave him away, Zhao Laosi might realize that he was the infamous "Shrek No. 8." If that happened, and the news got out, his reputation would be ruined forever. He wouldn't just be unable to enter the Spirit Arena; he might have to flee Soto City overnight.
Sensing his disciple's fear, Yu Xiaogang shook his head slightly. "No, we haven't heard anything."
Zhao Laosi nodded, pleased. It seemed the news hadn't fully spread yet, which meant he still had time to make money. He had to find his next customer soon. With that in mind, he decided to stop dragging it out and finally revealed everything he knew.
"Today, a Spirit Master with the codename 'Shrek No. 8' appeared in the arena," he began. "Do you know what this Spirit Master's martial soul is?" He paused, a wicked grin on his face. "You might want to prepare yourselves. The following words may cause... physical discomfort."
As soon as he said that, both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San felt a sense of dread. The latter felt his scalp begin to tingle.
"It's fine, just tell us," Yu Xiaogang said through gritted teeth. He guessed that the details of Tang San's disastrous battle must have been leaked.
"I'm telling you..." Zhao Laosi's voice dropped another two degrees, becoming a conspiratorial whisper. Yu Xiaogang leaned his ear closer, listening intently.
"That Spirit Master's martial soul is...'shit'!"
"And one of his spirit skills is...'shit-spraying'!"
"Hahahahahaha!" Having delivered his punchline, Zhao Laosi couldn't contain himself and burst out laughing.
"So? Is that exciting enough for you? Explosive enough? Worth the price of the tickets, right?" he gasped between laughs. "I'm telling you, this guy is going to be fighting for the next few days. If you want to see him, he'll be in the Thirteenth Spirit Arena tomorrow!"
Zhao Laosi grew more and more excited as he spoke, completely failing to notice that the faces of his two customers had turned as black as thunderclouds. Tang San, in particular, looked like he was about to be sick. His face was a dark, ugly shade of green.
"Why aren't you two saying anything?" Zhao Laosi finally asked, catching his breath. "Isn't that hilarious?"
"I..."
Before he could finish, he saw the two men turn around and walk away without a word. And they were walking very, very fast.
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