Chapter 53: Not in Vain

"Only one move! Just one move! How do you view this match, Sha Duo?" the middle-aged commentator asked.

A one-move victory isn't particularly special in a match of this level.

The duration is too short, and the atmosphere isn't intense enough for the audience to appreciate the professional aspects. This is where the commentator and guest analysts come into play.

"Fire Fang's attack speed and move power are both a step above Fire Chain. Especially its attack speed; it almost launched its skill before the match even started, while Xie Jianyin was still giving commands," Sha Duo analyzed.

The middle-aged commentator, however, had a different perspective.

While attack speed is important, he believed the key to victory lay in that spark of fire.

It was a spark at the Minor Success level.

If that spark were only at the Beginner level, its power wouldn't be enough to knock out Fire Chain with the explosion's shockwave.

He remembered that Qiao Sang's profile stated she was a recent junior high school graduate…

The host continued with the proceedings, introducing the names of the fourth group of contestants, while the audience was still discussing the previous match.

"What's up with Xie Jianyin? Why use a Fire Chain when he has a Longtail Snake?"

"Maybe he thought using a Fire Chain would still win."

"It feels like a headshot in a game. Did they have some kind of deal behind the scenes?"

"Fire Fang isn't weak. What's so strange about winning? If it were a fake match, it would have lasted a few moves. How could it lose so quickly? Besides, what's the point of a black match in a small-scale competition?"

These days, there are many competitions, and many people watch them, especially large-scale ones, which are widely reported by major media and online platforms.

For high-level competitions where A-class Beast Masters can participate, the number of online viewers is at least in the hundreds of millions.

Any Beast Master who appears in such a competition can gain a large number of fans, and their value will skyrocket.

Not to mention if they achieve a certain ranking in the competition.

Black matches usually only occur in high-level competitions.

Whether it's the capitalists pulling the strings or the Beast Masters seeking to become famous, they will try to manipulate things behind the scenes.

However, for a competition like the Bai Xin, which relies on the contestants' friends and family to boost its ratings, a black match has no meaning.

Qiao Sang was just sitting down with Fire Fang.

"Qiao Genius, that was amazing! I didn't even react, and you had already won," Bai Yunmiao said with a smile.

"Actually, I didn't react either," Qiao Sang replied.

"Ya ya!"

Fire Fang nodded, indicating that it felt the same way.

"Ha ha, the look on Fire Fang's face when it realized it had won was so funny. Too bad it wasn't recorded. You can check it out online later; it could even be used as an emoji," Bai Yunmiao added with a laugh.

"Ya!"

Fire Fang suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Wasn't the online record supposed to show its cool side during the match?

What was wrong with its expression?

How could it be funny?

Qiao Sang was also curious. During the battle, Fire Fang was facing away from her, so she didn't see its expression.

However, the platform was live-streaming, so she would have to wait until the morning matches were over and watch the replay to see.

The matches proceeded efficiently.

When it was the 20th group's turn to enter the arena, Bai Yunmiao took out a mirror from her crossbody bag and checked her reflection.

She then took out a comb and styled her air bangs.

Qiao Sang couldn't help but say, "You even brought a comb."

Bai Yunmiao replied seriously, "As a refined Beast Master, one must always pay attention to one's image when facing the camera."

Qiao Sang: "…"

This was the first time she had heard a Beast Master described as "refined." The term was more suitable for Coordinators, who not only manage their Pokémon's appearance but also their own.

She thought Bai Yunmiao had the potential to be a Coordinator…

Bai Yunmiao was the 25th contestant, and her opponent was not on Qiao Sang's list of names to watch.

"Fire Fang, who do you think will win?" Qiao Sang asked as usual.

"Ya."

Fire Fang pointed to the figure in the air that it had grown fond of—Little Fat Pigeon.

Qiao Sang thought that Bai Yunmiao hadn't praised Fire Fang's appearance, so Fire Fang must have made a fair judgment and chosen the Pokémon it thought might win…

Bai Yunmiao's Pokémon was a Gold Vine.

Standing about 90 cm tall, it had a small, round green body, golden eyes with no pupils, and a 5 cm long vine curling from its head, giving it a somewhat dazed and cute appearance.

On the field, both sides had been sparring for two minutes, and both had expended some energy.

Little Fat Pigeon's flight altitude had also slightly decreased.

The Gold Vine's head swayed, and several leaf blades shot toward Little Fat Pigeon in the air.

Little Fat Pigeon flapped its wings frantically to avoid them. Just as it thought the leaf blades had passed, two vines emerged from the Gold Vine's index fingers and tightly bound it.

In the next second, Little Fat Pigeon's field of vision flipped 180 degrees.

"Pigeon!!"

Controlled by the vines, Little Fat Pigeon was slammed headfirst into the ground.

"Contestant Bai Yunmiao wins," the referee announced.

Fire Fang covered its eyes, unable to bear the sight.

Qiao Sang looked at Fire Fang, which was covering its eyes.

Is this a jinx?

"How was it, how was it? Did my hairstyle mess up during the match?" Bai Yunmiao asked as soon as she sat down.

"It's fine," Qiao Sang replied.

Bai Yunmiao's hairstyle was a bun, neatly tied up. Unless she engaged in intense activity, it wouldn't get messy.

Bai Yunmiao was very satisfied with this answer and took out her mirror and comb to style her air bangs again.

…

As the morning matches concluded, the contestants and audience began to leave the venue.

At the entrance of the arena.

Bai Yunmiao pointed to a reporter holding a microphone nearby and said nervously, "What should I do? I'm a bit nervous. What should I say if they interview me when we pass by?"

Qiao Sang replied, "It depends on what they ask. Usually, they ask why you participated in the competition and your thoughts on it."

Bai Yunmiao nodded and asked, "How do I look right now?"

"Beautiful," Qiao Sang praised.

"Then I… Ah! They're looking at us! Ah ah ah! They're coming over!" Bai Yunmiao said excitedly.

"Stay calm and maintain your image," Qiao Sang said.

"You're right… They are coming over!" Bai Yunmiao whispered excitedly.

Qiao Sang looked over, and indeed, the reporter with the microphone was approaching them.

It seems Bai Yunmiao's foresight was correct.

Not in vain.

Soon, the reporter and his team arrived in front of them.

"Contestant Qiao Sang, I am a reporter from the Hanggang聚合 platform. I would like to interview you about Fire Fang and the competition. Do you have time now?"

Qiao Sang looked at the microphone in front of her and fell silent.

Bai Yunmiao: "…!"