Chapter 117 - Gift money.
Pulling in an external a.s.sistance during a PK battle was considered normal, and while the website stipulated for the interjoining of two live broadcasting rooms, it did not dictate whether other people could be invited. No one could say that it was the violation of rules and they could only settle for the fact that they had the ability and the connections to invite someone else.
What this meant was that, if you have the ability, you can invite them too; it was useless to complain if you do not possess such an ability.
Which was precisely why KK hadn’t interfered when Howling Wolf decided to ally himself with Piaoluo. Naturally, the fans following Piaoluo and the fans who were looking forward to three anchors live broadcasting together had no issue with the arrangement, and it was only the people who were solely fans of KK that were slightly begrudging.
【No way, isn’t Howling Wolf going to leave? The PK battle is about to start.】
【What are they doing… pulling votes as a pair?】
【???? What the h.e.l.l, wasn’t this supposed to be a PK between KK and Piaoluo?】
【Even if you want to watch the commotion, this isn’t the way to do it, to say nothing of playing a game together?】
【You must be joking, right?】
There were only a few of such comments before other comments tided over them. Howling Wolf’s fans were numerous in number and the people speaking for their idols managed to twist the direction of the discussion in a short moment’s work.
【Hurry up and start ahhhhhh!!!!!!!】
【Anxious, wanting, waiting, expectant, needy, nervous!! Go go go go go go go!】
【In my opinion, the PK match will only take a total of twenty minutes.】
【If you don’t start, the dishes are going to become cold.】
Piaoluo’s words were along the same lines. “KK, are you prepared on your end? Shall we open a room to play one round?”
His expression might be warm but his tone had its own slight taste. If it was not for the fact that Kang Shengzhe understood him, he was afraid that normal people would never be able to guess what kind of temper he had. Unexpectedly, Kang Shengzhe smiled before saying: “I’m alone, what could I possibly need to prepare?”
While those words served to irritate, he said it in a joking manner. Piaoluo blinked and laughed out loud as if he completely missed the taunt and treated it as a word of daily banter.
Meanwhile, Howling Wolf made an audible exhale before he replied: “KK, what do you mean by that? Do you, perhaps, want to pull someone in too? If you want to do so, you ought to hurry.”
The rest of his words were left unsaid but everyone could understand it. If Kang Shengzhe wanted to pull someone, the most likely person was Little Sword Fairy but Little Sword Fairy was engaged in his own match in the quarter finals tonight. However, had he won together with Kang Shengzhe, he could proceed to semi-finals to fight another match.
They knew that pulling Little Sword Fairy was not a possibility. Piaoluo’s eyes glinted slightly. While he did not say it out loud, his heart was extremely repulsed by the fact that Howling Wolf had started this particular thread of discourse with KK. Even if it was not Little Sword Fairy, he loathed the idea of Kang Shengzhe pulling in another person.
In the second where both parties refused to budge, Kang Shengzhe showed a contemplative att.i.tude on his end. Suddenly, Kang Shengzhe’s chair was kicked gently and a girlish voice rang out in the room, steady and domineering: “Pull me.”
Kang Shengzhe turned his head to look at him, a resplendent smile blooming on his visage as if he was a favoured concubine who had his tile flipped. Simultaneously, the fans in the live broadcasting room immediately went crazy after they recovered from their stupor.
【???? Sister Liang!??? Is that Sister Liang!!】
【It’s Sister Laing!! I definitely didn’t hear that wrongly!! AHHHHH you guys are really staying together!! Oh my G.o.d!!】
【ahhhhhh don’t even speak, just pull her in!!】
【Let’s put aside the previous incident, it’s currently close to twelve midnight right now ah!! Who would believe you if you said you weren’t living together! Even the background of the live broadcast is the same!!】
k3010;I knew it I knew it! You are finally caught red-handed by me!k3011;
k3010;Pull pull pull! Fight together!! Sister Liang! I’ve missed you to death!k3011;
【Wait! Am I the only one who realised that Sister Liang is frenetic, husband protecting demon!??】
Kang Shengzhe did not expect that You Liangxing would suddenly make a sound from behind his back. However, since You Liangxing had already spoken, it meant that he did not mind the fans in the live broadcasting room discovering it. Jubilant, he simply ignored what the chat was pointing out as he told the other two people present: “You don’t mind if I pull Liang Liang in, right?”
Piaoluo’s public image had to be upheld, hence, he only had one answer. He said: “Why would we… of course we don’t mind.”
Kang Shengzhe: “That’s good, because even if you minded, I would have pulled either way.”
Piaoluo: “…… Hahahaha.”
Piaoluo could feign a laugh but Howling Wolf was not the same. Right away, he asked: “That’s not an anchor from MengMao, who is it?”
Kang Shengzhe giggled, saying, “Who brings an anchor to a single player PK battle? My fans have already said that I was shameless to begin with; wouldn’t it be more shameless if I were to bring an anchor?”
Piaoluo’s eyelid jumped, feeling like Kang Shengzhe’s words were closer to hitting people’s face on the spot. However, Kang Shengzhe did not pay him any heed and revealed a shy expression instead. “Don’t misunderstand, Liang Liang is but my humble wife ~”
When those words fell, a kick went straight for his chair and Kang Shengzhe’s body swayed like an old tree rocking in a tornado. Meanwhile, the shrieks in the live broadcasting room coalesced.
【AHHHHH HUMBLE! WIFE!! Is this f.u.c.king official and certified!!? Do those words mean you’re making your relationship public!??】
【Why do I see the five huge words ‘fooling around and flirtatious banter’ from that kick? (Unbridled Shrieking)】
【The both of you, that’s about enough from the both of you QAQ! Wasn’t today supposed to be a PK battle!!! Why is it issuing dog food as well!】
【Sister Liang, hurry up and deny it ah! …… Fine, even if you denied it, I wouldn’t believe it! You’re obviously together!】
【Holy!! Fight this Shameless person for his cyber love counterattack!! I’ll freaking… I’ll freaking… give you gifts!!】
Immediately, the entire live broadcasting room screen ushered in a spring tide of gifts which blotted out the skies and covered the earth.
【x.x.xX】gifted Anchor【Victor KK】10 Cat Field Mints.
【AAAA】gifted Anchor【Victor KK】1 Cat Villa.
【CHBG】gifted Anchor【Victor KK】2 Cat Towers.
The fans’ att.i.tudes showed an extraordinary consensus, and those gifts were in the name of “gift money”.
Evidently, Howling Wolf did not expect that such a thing could happen – before the match even started, the KK live broadcasting room managed to take the lead by a wide margin with a casual line that Kang Shengzhe uttered. He could no longer care about anything else and he hurriedly said: “If you want to pull, just pull her in, let’s start without further delay.”
Kang Shengzhe quietened down in response, and both sides tacitly opened a room to start the game. Piaoluo and Howling Wolf were on one side while Kang Shengzhe and You Liangxing were on the other, and the remaining slots were filled by their chosen viewers. Once the team of five was made, they opened the match.
The process of drawing fans was done at random and it was inevitable for their skill levels to be uneven. There were skilled ones and there were bad ones, and they had their own preferences and calculations. The anchors did not particularly care for their fans’ skill level because it was still a PK battle in the end. The most decisive factor for victory was still their popularity and how many gifts they received, not the victory or defeat of a match.
The logic was as such, but there were still people whose priorities were misaligned from others. Kang Shengzhe had a deep hunger for victory and he just wanted to win the game. When the selection of the fans to complete the team ended, he said: “We definitely have to win!”
The three fans huddled together. “Okay!!”
There were even people who express their worries: “But our skills are limited…”
Kang Shengzhe replied, “No worries! The mystical KK will let you win while you’re lying down~ Everyone, prepare to take flight!”
Thus, the heavy stones in the fans’ heart fell to the ground and they chorused, “Let’s do our best, fighting!”
The atmosphere was extremely harmonious and Kang Shengzhe’s gazed in a certain direction outside of the camera, chuckling, which caused the energy in the live broadcasting room to spike exponentially.
【Were you looking at Sister Liang!! Scoundrel, I want to see her too!!】
【Add her ID number!! I want to see Sister Liang ORZ!!】
【Are you really not going to be on camera together!! I’ve already prepared a month’s worth of salary for this.】
【I’m super curious about Sister Liang’s appearance, KK’s face value makes me highly suspect that Sister Liang must be a celestial fairy from the heavens… or else, how did they form a relationship so quickly…】
【And is Sister Liang going to speak tonight? Please save this voice-con, let her speak again, alright?! I’m already kneeling, do you know that!】
The degree of heat that Kang Shengzhe and You Liangxing induced had always been very high, to say nothing of the fact that it had been a long time since his last appearance which led to the KK fans dominating the screen. Although the comments became one-sided, there was no visible change on Piaoluo’s expression but he was not feeling any better than Howling Wolf was.
To prevent his sense of existence from lowering further, he remarked: “While I heard about the matter of KK carrying girls early on, I did not expect that the two of you would really be together. It really makes me envious.”
Kang Shengzhe sneaked a look to judge You Liangxing’s expression, only to discern that You Liangxing did not show any disapproval for the word ‘together’. Bursting with joy, he spoke without a modic.u.m of modesty: “It’s normal to be envious, even I’m envious of myself. This peach blossom luck, it feels good~~~ I would like to thank my mom for giving me such a beautiful face.”
Unable to parcel out what those words were truly jabbing at, Piaoluo’s expression went stiff. The fact that his face value was worse than Kang Shengzhe and Howling Wolf had always been something that was lodged in his heart, and he found it unfair every time he thought about it.
But the thoughts of the audience and Piaoluo differed, for the former boiled with noise.
【Where’s Sister Liang!! Please kick him now!!】
【This K, truly has no sense of shame!!】
【You’re being way too pleased!! Sister Liang is clearly only with you out of charity!!!】
【It doesn’t matter if you’re good looking…. You’re still a loose, unrestrained and despicable person.】
【So what if you look beautiful! I… okay, I love you pretty!】
Entering the hero selection interface, Kang Shengzhe and Piaoluo went quiet. Since they were sharing screens, any pick they made was transparent. Stuck with the marksman position, Piaoluo picked the marksman Sun Shangxiang while Kang Shengzhe chose King Lanling. Meanwhile, You Liangxing and Howling Wolf had yet to make their choices.
Howling Wolf was waiting for You Liangxing to make his choice; after all, since it was a person that KK pulled in, he ought to make some contingencies.
Kang Shengzhe said, “Liang Liang, choose whatever you want.”
You Liangxing was by his side and he had been staying silent the entire time. It was only then that he decided to speak. “The old combination, I’ll play an auxiliary role for you.”
However, auxiliary was separated into several types. Kang Shengzhe mulled over it. Back then, the combination that brought about the greatest satisfaction when he was playing together with Liang Liang was when one was responsible for killing while the other was responsible for healing.
“Healer?”
“En, Cai Wenji.”
Consequently, You Liangxing tapped on Cai Wenji and locked it in. When his pick landed in Howling Wolf’s eyes, he could not help but ridicule it in his heart. In less than a second, he selected Diao Chen and pressed confirm.
In the higher rankings, Cai Wenji was seldom banned.
Initially, Howling Wolf was planned to act according to circ.u.mstances based on You Liangxing’s pick – if he chose a powerful hero, he would restrain him from start to finish, but now that he had chosen a healer, he scorned him and chose the Diao Chen which he frequently used as he had originally intended.
He knew that his hand speed was a shortcoming when compared to Kang Shengzhe but being able to work as an entertainment game anchor meant that his hand speed was still there and supressing a healer to death was not an issue.
Additionally, while King Lanling was ferocious even in the early stages, the combination of Diao Chen and Sun Shangxiang had a higher possibility of winning based on their team fight prowess and synergy in the late game.
Kang Shengzhe was most definitely done for in this match.
Heart at peace, the heroes landed and very quickly, the match began. Piaoluo and Howling Wolf’s fans started giving them gifts in a mad rush.
【Wolf wolf wolf wolf, make a wave!!!!】
【Piaoluo, all the best!!】
【Rooting for you like crazy!!!】
Kang Shengzhe kept his silence and showed no response. Only when the sound “Welcome to King’s Glory” reverberated, did he abruptly say: “With the sizable audience that this game match has attracted, and how you and Wolf are going against me in the live broadcast, do I get any benefits if I win?”
Benefits? You want benefits? Piaoluo smiled, “What do you want to add?”
Kang Shengzhe did not even bother to pretend to contemplate through his options as he cut straight to the chase. “The person who loses has to withdraw from the compet.i.tion.”
In an instant, the air plunged into silence. Howling Wolf said in surprise, “… Withdraw from the compet.i.tion?”
MengMao’s quarterfinals was not in a single elimination format; even if they were to lose this round, they could win the next two rounds against other people and still qualify for the semi-finals by pushing others out of the top four. Whereas withdrawing from the compet.i.tion was a dead end, and the two types of losses could not be spoken on equal terms.
Piaoluo smiled slightly and said: “KK, you’re playing this a little too big. It’s just a game, you don’t need to go so far.”
Instead of answering, Kang Shengzhe smiled instead. “From the start, weren’t you preparing to fight me two against one? Are you that unconfident about your odds of success in spite of that? What, you don’t dare?”
Once those words were spoken, the air in the room changed immediately. The swords were drawn and the bows were bent; Piaoluo frowned, refusing to speak while Howling Wolf could not take the provocation lying down. He laughed coldly, “Who doesn’t dare? You should be the one appraising if you dare to play on such terms. Having to withdraw from the compet.i.tion after losing— those are your words, don’t regret them later.”
Saying that was equivalent to partic.i.p.ating in the betting. First of, the person Kang Shengzhe had asked was Piaoluo but this was advantageous too, because Howling Wolf had chosen to send himself to his door, holding him to his own words without giving him a chance to reject it. Meanwhile, Piaoluo could only endure the rage he had for his pig-headed teammate and tried his hardest to keep smiling.
He said: “I’m fine with that, but King’s Glory is a compet.i.tion between many people. Do your teammates agree with your words? If you were to lose, your teammates have to accept the blame, and it wouldn’t be too pleasant if they were to blame themselves, would it?”
“That does make some sense. Liang Liang, what do you say?” Kang Shengzhe muttered.
You Liangxing did not turn on his microphone and his voice was transmitted through Kang Shengzhe’s live broadcasting room. With a flat tone, he stated, “You’re thinking too much, we won’t lose.”