Chapter Thirty-Four: On How to Arouse Public Outrage

When the morning of the sixth day arrived, after five days of fierce competition, the Hunting Tournament finally welcomed its last participant: the Xia family. Yet the atmosphere at the venue did not become any more lively with the arrival of this finale family; instead, it seemed somewhat subdued, with some spectators even gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.

Xia Mo Yan’s beautiful face showed a hint of disappointment. Although she had confidence in their themed hunting ground, “Class Three, Senior Year,” and hoped to convey something meaningful through it, reality was simply unyielding. The prejudices of society stood before them like an insurmountable wall.

When it was the Xia family’s turn to draw lots for their hunters, Xia Mo Yan rose, intending to ascend the stage, but Fang Nian suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Mo Yan, could you let me do it? I’ve never tried before, not once in my life.”

Xia Mo Yan was not someone who chased after fame or profit. Seeing Fang Nian’s rustic eagerness, she couldn’t help but smile.

“All right, you go ahead.”

Fang Nian smiled back at her, straightened his shirt, and made his way to the area where the drawing took place.

After the host, responsible for the drawing, worked the crowd and confirmed Fang Nian’s identity, he invited him to begin. However, Fang Nian did not immediately reach for the lots. Instead, he borrowed the host’s microphone, cleared his throat, and addressed the audience.

“Hello everyone, my name is Fang Nian, son-in-law of the Xia family. I am honored to represent the Xia hunting ground in conducting today’s draw.”

His words drew a wave of laughter and ridicule from the audience.

“Hey, this guy’s hilarious! It’s just a drawing—everyone else just finishes it and steps down, but he feels the need to say a few words?”

“Haha, I get it, I get it. He’s a son-in-law, always humble in the family. Now that he finally gets a moment in the spotlight, he’s got to seize it.”

“Yeah, he’s taking it seriously—stop laughing at him unless you can’t help it… Hahaha, I can’t, how is his skin so thick?”

…

Listening to the jeers around them, the Xia family members wished they could disappear into a crack in the earth. Even Xia Jun Yi, always calm and composed, wore a troubled expression, glancing at Xia Mo Yan in confusion, unable to understand why she had let this man draw the lots.

At that moment, Fang Nian suddenly closed the box containing the lots, looking out over the audience with a serene expression.

“First, let me explain. Due to the special nature of the Xia hunting ground, we will select thirty-eight hunters to voluntarily participate in this hunt. Yes, select. The reason is our themed hunting ground, ‘Class Three, Senior Year,’ is extremely dangerous. Those who participate may be injured or even lose their lives during the hunt.

Therefore, I hope the members of the hunting team will choose carefully to avoid accidents. Of course, to encourage you all, aside from the prize offered by the tournament, the Xia family will provide an extra reward, three times the tournament prize, for those who successfully complete the hunt. Now, you may register.”

A wave of astonishment swept the crowd.

---

The moment Fang Nian finished speaking, the atmosphere, which had been full of mockery, instantly shifted to shock.

He was showing off—terribly so. A mere son-in-law, uttering such grand words in this kind of setting! To them, he didn’t seem to take any of the other hunting grounds or the hunters seriously.

The tournament had spent a fortune to recruit these hunters, yet to highlight his own family’s hunting ground, he had tripled the prize and let hunters choose whether to participate. Arrogant—excessively so.

Jin Jin Dao was so furious, he nearly stomped his feet.

“Fang Nian, don’t push your luck! You’re a nobody when it comes to building hunting grounds, so what right do you have to show off in front of me? What makes you think you can ignore us? You really think you’re something now?”

Xu Lang was no less enraged.

“This bastard, just because he won once, he thinks he can look down on everyone?”

Xiao Xue Feng, who had just calmed down, was provoked again by Fang Nian’s words, cursing at his own staff. His employees, in turn, vented their anger toward Fang Nian’s ancestors.

Yet, the people who understood “Class Three, Senior Year” best were the Xia family’s developers. Though they had some confidence in the hunting ground, they didn't expect such bravado, and now felt a bit uncertain.

Xia Jun Yi was also uneasy; the Xia family could not afford another mishap. He looked to Xia Mo Yan.

Meeting his questioning gaze, Xia Mo Yan gave him a gentle smile, reassuring him, though she was not completely confident herself. “Class Three, Senior Year” had reason for its boldness, but to challenge the entire hunting community of District Sixteen—this was still…

Yet, through her recent interactions with Fang Nian, she had come to realize he was not reckless. If he dared say such things, he must have confidence.

“Perhaps there’s something hidden in the part he designed,” she thought.

Xia Mo Yan chose silence, ready to stand alongside Fang Nian, whatever the outcome.

The ones most provoked by Fang Nian’s words were the hunters themselves—all seasoned veterans, each a proven elite.

Given such generous conditions, they felt no fear. With the Xia family’s capabilities, at most this would be an E- or E-level hunting ground—what was there to fear?

Suddenly, a frenzy began as the hunters rushed to the host to sign up, save for a few who had been injured in previous hunts.

Fang Nian then dropped another bombshell. He turned to the host and said quietly,

“Please reserve spots for the four seeded hunters. I believe they won’t refuse.”

---

If there is a lesson in how to incite public outrage, Fang Nian had mastered it.

With his words, the venue erupted. Shouts and protests filled the air, and the atmosphere soared to the highest peak.

Xiao Xue Luan, Li Jian, and Han Jue, who had been seated all along, signed up without hesitation. Fang Jie, finally recognizing Fang Nian, approached him with a smile.

“Second Brother, I never expected to see you here. After that day, I thought you were dead. Looks like the life of a son-in-law suits you well now.”

A faint smile played on Fang Nian’s lips as he shrugged.

“Thankfully, Grandpa watched over me and I survived. You’re right, I happened to marry a breathtaking wife, so life’s definitely better than yours. By the way, how’s your rich heiress weighing a hundred and eighty pounds? I hear she’s quite fierce. Judging by your sallow face, you must have paid the price.”

“You—”

“What, you? Are you signing up or not? Or are you afraid?”

Fang Jie burst out laughing.

“Afraid? Are you joking? I, Fang Jie, afraid of you, a junk collector?”

“Then stop wasting words and hurry up.”

Fang Nian’s gaze sharpened, hungry as a wolf as he looked at Fang Jie.

“I remember saying when I escaped District Sixteen, that I’d settle all past scores with you one by one. Now that you’ve stumbled into my sights, I’ll start with you. I’ll make you pay dearly for what you did back then.”

By then, all thirty-eight hunters had registered, and the four seeded players had joined as well. The largest-scale hunt in six days was about to begin, and the atmosphere in the venue burned at its peak.

Yet, what Fang Nian had not noticed was that, in a corner of the hunting ground, Xu Fan was regarding him with venomous eyes, muttering,

“Boy, you’d better pray for yourself.”