299: Chapter 296 Is Old Six Contagious?

Bang!~

Azure Dragon's bloated body landed heavily on his custom lounge chair, leaving his nearby companions dumbfounded.

"Azure Dragon-san, are you really alright?"

"I'm fine, my stomach just feels a bit uncomfortable. I might have diarrhea for the next few days."

"But... can you even do that? Azure Dragon-san, since you're fine, why didn't you fight to defend your dignity? This is cowardice. Don't you feel ashamed?"

His companion, Yoshimura-kun, found this completely incomprehensible.

However, he only saw a look of disdain on Azure Dragon's Face.

"Li is very powerful. I felt that if I kept fighting, there was a high probability I would die. Given that, why should I continue?"

"But... but this is about dignity..."

"Dignity? What the hell is that?"

Azure Dragon picked his ear and blurted out a phrase in Xia country's dialect.

"You... you are a disgrace to the world of sumo!"

"Disgrace? Dying is what you call a disgrace. Combat techniques are inherently mean and shameless. I didn't lose; I won. This is a victory for combat sports, for sumo, and for grappling and jiu-jitsu!"

Azure Dragon waved his chubby fist happily, looking quite proud of himself.

What kind of god-forsaken 'victory for combat' was that?

Yoshimura-kun felt his entire worldview being overturned; he had never seen anyone interpret fighting like this.

"A certain Mr. Shuren from Xia country once said that those who recognize the situation... oh, wait, it's 'the survivor is king.' I am the Great Yokozuna with the most consecutive titles in history. Preserving my useful body is the greatest victory."

Azure Dragon curled his lip in disdain. Those who mocked him were all stupid clowns; looking back in ten or twenty years, his choice today would be proven absolutely correct.

"Azure Dragon, you are too shameless. Does this Li-san truly terrify you this much? You're willing to give up your glory?"

"Hmm? That's right! I'm scared. If you're not afraid of death, go up there yourself!"

Azure Dragon shrugged, his words leaving Yoshimura-kun stunned.

Yoshimura-kun's blood was already boiling from Azure Dragon's string of shameless remarks, and at this moment, he blurted out, "I'll go if I have to!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of regret.

However, he was someone who cared deeply about Face. With everyone around him casting 'you're so brave' looks his way, Yoshimura-kun tremblingly picked up the tablet.

"Yoshimura-kun..." Azure Dragon spoke suddenly, his voice low and his expression grave. "Think of the cherry blossoms of our hometown, think of your Sakurako-san. Is it really worth it?"

"You!~"

It would have been better if he hadn't said anything. At those words, Yoshimura-kun pressed the button, and the screen soon displayed the challenge VS message.

Seeing this, Azure Dragon threw up his hands helplessly. Fine, good advice can't save a ghost determined to die. He really hadn't meant to provoke him; why were young people like this nowadays?

Yoshimura-kun walked toward the tunnel, basking in the admiring gazes of the crowd.

Watching Yoshimura-kun walk away, another companion sitting a seat away, Oguriwara, hurried over.

"Azure Dragon-san, is this Li-kun really that strong?"

"What? You don't believe me?"

"I do, of course I do. Uh, Azure Dragon-san, what's that on your body?"

"Which one? Oh, this. It's for saving my life. Luckily I'm usually cautious enough and prepared this move in advance; otherwise, I wouldn't have been faking death just now—I'd really be gone."

As he spoke, Azure Dragon pulled out an ointment-like object from under his chair.

"This is..." Oguriwara was a bit confused; the item looked familiar, especially that logo.

"Okamoto hyaluronic acid. The Vaseline used for matches isn't slippery enough. This is a Divine Artifact, whether for home use or competition." Azure Dragon showed it off with a proud flick of his wrist, though he quickly hid it again, seemingly afraid the staff would notice.

Oguriwara understood completely now and couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

If this stuff were applied in a professional sumo match, the opponent would probably slip right off the moment they touched him.

As expected of no-holds-barred fighting; Azure Dragon had truly figured out the game, the old fox.

"I'm getting old, sometimes I'm just afraid of dying. Not like you young people who have that fire in your blood. Not bad, Yoshimura-kun is quite good, he has a lot of samurai spirit!"

Oguriwara's Face was lined with frustration. Senior Azure Dragon truly lived up to being a seven-time consecutive Great Yokozuna; even his words were so calculated.

"Senior Azure Dragon, do you think Yoshimura-kun..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when a commotion broke out nearby.

Then, two staff members were seen pushing a gurney through the middle of the locker room.

On the gurney was a large mass of dead meat that, from a distance, looked like a pig that had died suddenly.

"Yoshimura-kun, I'll take care of your Sakurako for you. He was still too young."

Senior Azure Dragon's lamenting voice sounded like a devil's whisper in Oguriwara's ears.

This... he was gone just like that?

Three minutes ago, the man was still sitting in his seat; three minutes later, he was lying right before his eyes.

"Senior Azure Dragon, I think what you said makes a lot of sense. By the way, where did you buy that hyaluronic acid?"

——

"Baka! Useless trash!"

Watching the Great Yokozuna Yoshimura being wheeled away, Fujino cursed inwardly.

Sitting here was like being on a damn roller coaster.

Each one gave him hope, only for each to lose faster than the last.

The second one was also finished in a second. Two minutes to get on stage, one second to be defeated.

"Fujino-san! What are you standing there for? Now is the chance. Li-kun must be out of stamina. Quick! Go up now. You mustn't give him time to recover his stamina, even if it's a bit unsportsmanlike..."

"But Li-kun is definitely a terrifying opponent. To defend the glory of our Kyokushin-ryū, Fujino-san, it's your turn!"

"Saito!"

Fujino stared at his companion, knowing he probably couldn't avoid this.

But...

"Saito! If I lose, then you're next. For glory, even if it's a battle of attrition, we must win!"

Thump~

At Fujino's words, the somewhat thin Saito was instantly stunned.

"Correct! Saito, if Fujino fails, you're next!"

"Sugoi! Saito, we see your loyalty to Kyokushin-ryū. Soon will be your time to shine. But for now, let us offer our blessings to Fujino!"

The bizarre atmosphere on the Kyokushin-ryū side was unique in the room.

Some fighters who understood the Japanese Faction's language looked at this group as if they were fools.

Was this... internal strife?

It didn't look like it.

Why were they all sending their own people to their deaths?

Soon, Fujino-kun walked out with tragic, solemn steps.

Soon, Fujino-kun was miserably carried back by the staff.

The whole process... took exactly three minutes.

However, Fujino was quite crafty. Although his left arm had been snapped by Li Changsheng's 'Body-Fitting Rotation' and 'Free-Flowing Deflection' style...

But!

He was weeping with joy.

Saito glared at the fellow.

He had seen it clearly just now; this guy was actually imitating Azure Dragon.

Although his acting was much better than Azure Dragon's and it looked like he had genuinely fought Li Changsheng, they were all experts—how could they not see the little tricks?

Saito couldn't fully grasp the 'Body-Fitting Rotation,' but he could see how fierce Li Changsheng's internal force was as he charged with his knees. It was like an unstoppable tiger emerging from its cage.

Given Li-kun's previous performance, being hit by that would be no different from a car crash.

However, Fujino had performed a fake fall from the start. Although his left arm was hit, because it actually broke, he played the part perfectly.

It could be said that he was a living example: being a coward is contagious.