I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Meeting Ye Muni Again

Dongli Kingdom.

Dongping Airport in the capital.

Watched by countless reporters and citizens, the trio of Su Ze, Zhang Kun, and Wang Hai boarded the plane.

This time, they were heading to the Trial by Combat openly and honorably. There was no need for Saint-level masters to fly them over; they could simply take a plane.

The airport was packed with citizens seeing them off. It was only then that Su Ze realized that after five days of buzz, the Trial by Combat had become the single most important issue for the people of Dongli.

Whether the patriotic scientist Liou Wenxin could return home safely tugged at the heartstrings of every Dongli citizen.

In the crowd that had just sent them off, countless people were shouting words of encouragement, cheering them on. Many recognized Zhang Kun and Wang Hai, as they were star students from Dongli University who had made names for themselves in various competitions.

But no one recognized Su Ze.

Many people wondered, ’Who is this ridiculously young and handsome guy? Why is he representing the Dongli Kingdom in the Trial by Combat?’

Although Su Ze was famous at Dongli University, his fame was confined to the campus. To the rest of the Dongli Kingdom, he was a complete unknown.

A video of the airport send-off was quickly posted online. Netizens from the Dongli Kingdom recognized Zhang Kun and Wang Hai, but not Su Ze, which sparked a heated discussion.

For a while, all sorts of speculation about Su Ze’s identity erupted online. With so many conflicting rumors, netizens couldn’t tell what was true and what was false.

Su Ze, who was scrolling on his phone, also saw the various discussions about him under the send-off video.

He registered a burner account and replied: ”Insider info, super reliable! This guy’s name is Su Ze, he’s Mr. Gu’s illegitimate son who was living abroad!”

Su Ze put his phone away. By then, everyone else had arrived, and the plane was about to take off.

The accompanying personnel, besides Zhang Tai and Zhou Wenshan, included several reporters from Dongli TV Station. They would be livestreaming the entire Trial by Combat.

As for General Li Fayi, although he was traveling with them, he didn’t board the plane. He had decided to fly alongside it to protect the passengers from the outside.

...

In Moli City, the capital of the Luofan Country, Luofan Academy was also exceptionally lively today.

Just as the people of Dongli were invested in the Trial by Combat, the people of Luofan were no exception. Furthermore, since they had the home-field advantage, many residents of the capital had flocked to Luofan Academy to cheer for their country.

Luofan was already a populous nation, and with so many people flooding in at once, Luofan Academy was quickly filled to capacity.

More people were still streaming toward Luofan Academy. The roads were filled with motorcycles carrying over a dozen people and buses with passengers clinging to the outside, all heading for the academy.

The Luofan Country government took emergency measures, closing off Luofan Academy to any more outsiders. They also used various channels to urge people who were on their way or planning to go to turn back, hoping to prevent traffic congestion and accidents.

After all, in the Luofan Country, any random traffic accident could result in mass casualties.

Once, a collision between two motorcycles resulted in 37 casualties!

This was no joke.

After flying for several hours, the plane carrying Su Ze and his team arrived at the Moli City airport in the afternoon.

Learning that traffic control measures were in place around Luofan Academy, the two Saints, Li Fayi and Zhou Wenshan, had everyone airdrop directly into the academy.

A fighting ring had already been set up inside Luofan Academy, right in the middle of a massive open-air stadium. The surrounding stands were already packed with the students and teachers of Luofan Academy.

As for the ordinary citizens, they could only watch by leaning over the railings of the stadium from the outside.

As soon as Su Ze and the others landed, a teacher from Luofan Academy came over to receive them. They were led to the side of the ring to wait for the Trial by Combat to begin, while the reporters from Dongli TV Station quickly set up their equipment and started the live broadcast.

While waiting, Su Ze’s gaze swept across the stands and immediately fell upon the most luxurious section. It was cordoned off, the plastic seats replaced with comfortable couches, and tables were set up with drinks, fruit platters, and snacks.

Those were the VIP seats.

Sitting in the very center was the same ”Holy Envoy” from last time, the Saint-level supreme being sent by the Sovereign Country. Just like before, his face was hidden, his entire body shrouded in a cyan halo. Su Ze couldn’t even be sure if he was physically present.

Beside the Holy Envoy, several of the Luofan Country’s Saint-level hegemons were seated in order, including Budi, Amida, and others.

Su Ze’s pupils contracted. He spotted an old acquaintance: Ye Muni!

He hadn’t expected Ye Muni to be here!

’If he sees me later, is he going to come down here and grab me?’ Su Ze felt a flicker of concern for his safety, but then he remembered he had powerful backers now. ’It probably won’t be a problem.’

Zhou Wenshan patted Su Ze and the others on the shoulder. ”Don’t be nervous. Just do your best.”

He and General Li Fayi then went over to the Holy Envoy’s section and took their seats.

Zhang Tai, however, stayed behind with Su Ze and the team.

Zhang Tai said, ”You guys should decide the fighting order. Who’s going first?”

Su Ze volunteered, ”I’ll go first.”

He was thinking that Zhang Kun was too weak. If he went up first and lost, it would be a huge blow to their morale.

Zhang Kun and Wang Hai had no objections, and they naturally fell into the second and third positions.

Su Ze also saw the contestants from the Luofan Country—two men and one woman—but he didn’t recognize any of them.

Zhang Kun had clearly done his homework and began to introduce the three opponents to Su Ze one by one.

”The one standing at the front is Alvin, the eighth son of Budi, the Speaker of the Luofan Country’s council. In Luofan, he’s known as the ’Eighth Prince.’”

”Behind him is Matuer, General Ye Muni’s nephew. I hear he’s the top master among the Luofan Army’s Pupa Stage cultivators.”

”The girl at the back is Amy. She’s ranked number one in actual combat among Luofan Academy’s Pupa Stage students.”

Su Ze didn’t pay much attention to the others, but he did remember Ye Muni’s nephew.

’The son of an old acquaintance. I’ll have to give him some special attention, won’t I?’

Seeing that both sides had determined their fighting order, a bald man walked onto the ring. He was the referee for this Trial by Combat.

After receiving the list with the fighting order from both sides, the bald referee announced, ”Now, will the contestants for the first round from both sides please enter the ring!”

Su Ze leaped onto the ring and saw that his opponent was indeed the ”Eighth Prince,” Alvin. The guy exuded a so-called noble air, refusing to look at people directly. He just looked like he was begging for a beating.

The Dongli TV Station’s live camera immediately focused on Su Ze and Alvin, and the female reporter began introducing the two contestants.

When it came to Alvin, the reporter had plenty to say—his background, his past achievements—but when she got to Su Ze, all she knew was his name.

Just then, Ye Muni, who was in the spectator seats, suddenly stood up. His gaze shot toward Su Ze on the ring like a sharp sword.

The Holy Envoy turned his head to glance at Ye Muni. ”Is there a problem?”

Ye Muni said in a low, heavy voice, ”Your Holiness, I request an immediate halt to the match! The contestant from the Dongli Kingdom is not a Dongli citizen, but a fugitive murderer from the Mu Country!”