Chapter 32: Motive (Request for Votes)

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He did not know that such a power as Nen existed, but he could keenly sense the traces it left behind...

Calista only became aware of Nen after exchanging blows with Morrow and seeing him use her Gazelle Footwork.

As for Huashidoulang, he discovered it simply by observation. In battle, Morrow seemed to be wearing an invisible suit of armor—or perhaps had become a wall that blocked every attack his opponents launched.

He believed it might be some kind of energy originating from within the body.

He knew nothing about it, yet he yearned for this mysterious power that could dramatically enhance one’s fighting ability.

So he followed his heart, came to Morrow without warning, and stated his resolve with complete bluntness.

Morrow looked at Huashidoulang, then at Calista.

To be honest...

Compared with Calista coming to seek him out, Huashidoulang’s arrival was far more surprising.

This was the man who, in the future, should have endured Hisoka’s baptism before dying at Hisoka’s hands. Yet now he had taken the initiative to seek Morrow’s help in uncovering the secrets of Nen.

Could Huashidoulang’s instinctive decision count as an inadvertent escape from his own destined death?

Of course, that depended on whether Morrow was willing to teach him Nen.

Nor could Morrow guarantee that Huashidoulang would not still draw Hisoka’s attention in the future.

However—

Morrow’s gaze suddenly fixed on Huashidoulang.

He was entirely capable of helping Huashidoulang avoid his future death. The only question was whether he was willing to do so.

If he taught Huashidoulang Nen ahead of time, would that count as stealing Hisoka’s apple?

Seeing Morrow stare at him, Huashidoulang immediately adopted a resolute expression.

He was not the sort to pester someone endlessly. He also knew that the Heaven’s Arena was full of capable and unusual people. Even if Morrow rejected his request, he could seek another way.

But he had already set his sights on Morrow and was mentally prepared to spend some time entangling himself with him.

Calista, standing nearby, saw that Morrow and Huashidoulang had locked eyes and immediately grew anxious.

She had clearly arrived first!

In her haste, Calista completely forgot about propriety. She grabbed Morrow by the arm and said urgently, “Mr. Morrow, I’m willing too... I’ll agree to anything. And besides, he’s a man. There are some things he can’t do!”

“?”

A question mark appeared above Morrow and Huashidoulang’s heads as they both turned to look at Calista.

Calista realized how that sounded and felt as though she had suddenly stopped breathing. She quickly released Morrow’s arm and explained, “I mean things like cooking and doing laundry.”

“The Heaven’s Arena has a laundromat that’s open around the clock. As for cooking...” Huashidoulang smiled at Calista and said gently, “I have a chef’s license. I should be able to satisfy most of Mr. Morrow’s needs.”

“...”

Calista stared at Huashidoulang in disbelief.

Huashidoulang looked back at her, his face still wearing a gentle smile, though his eyes revealed that he had no intention of yielding.

Invisible sparks burst between their intersecting gazes.

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Both of them came from martial arts backgrounds. They understood the importance of taking a personal disciple, and knew even better the value of one-on-one instruction.

That was the fundamental reason they were competing.

Calista had never expected a rival to appear out of nowhere, much less one who would so decisively and straightforwardly announce his intentions and determination.

In the end, she had been careless.

Now that she had lost the initiative, she was prepared to throw caution to the wind.

“But you don’t have breasts.”

Calista thrust out her chest.

The smile on Huashidoulang’s face instantly froze.

Beauty only slowed the speed of one’s punches.

That was why Huashidoulang had never been interested in women.

Yet as he studied Calista’s features, he had to admit, setting aside his personal biases, that she was not unattractive.

And because she had practiced martial arts for many years, her figure had lost some of its softness but gained a more decisive, graceful beauty.

For the moment, all he could do was look hesitantly toward Morrow.

His understanding of Morrow was ultimately limited. He truly did not know whether Morrow might be influenced by...

“Wait until I’ve finished my next match.”

Morrow did not respond to either of them. He left them with that one sentence and headed for the competitors’ lounge.

Huashidoulang understood the proper boundaries. He suppressed his concerns and said no more.

Calista, however, instinctively wanted to say something. But when she saw Huashidoulang watching Morrow leave like a devoted wife, she forcibly closed her mouth.

“I was here first!”

Once Morrow was out of sight, Calista frowned at Huashidoulang.

Huashidoulang slowly shook his head.

“On the day of the preliminary matches, you attacked Mr. Morrow and ended up injuring your own hand. Thanks to you, I was able to notice Mr. Morrow. What I mean is... I was there that day as well, so I should be thanking you.”

“!!!”

A vein throbbed at Calista’s temple.

In the competitors’ lounge, Morrow sat in a chair, deep in thought.

Should he teach Huashidoulang Nen?

He was considering the matter.

Although coming to the Heaven’s Arena had inspired his Fruit Farmer Plan...

He did not consider himself the sort of refined selfish monster who had lost all conscience.

Even if he were to cultivate apples himself, he would have to choose people he could cut down later without the slightest psychological burden.

Someone like Tagore, for example.

Morrow had always believed that a person could lower their standards, but could never be without standards.

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Judging from the length and events of the original story, Huashidoulang’s nature should not be bad. Morrow did not want to subject him to the Fruit Farmer Plan.

And so the question arose...

What reason or motivation did he have to teach Huashidoulang?

While Morrow was still pondering the matter, the time for his next match arrived.

Setting the issue aside for the moment, Morrow went to the arena and began his twentieth match since coming to the Heaven’s Arena.

The venue was still packed to capacity.

Nearly every spectator had come to witness the moment Morrow advanced to the two-hundredth floor.

That was right.

In the eyes of the spectators, Morrow had already been destined to win, even before the match began.

After all, Morrow had never disappointed them.

And that was exactly what happened.

Morrow defeated his opponent with ease and obtained his pass to the two-hundredth floor.

The spectators watched his figure on the ring, their faces flushed with excitement as they shouted Morrow’s name with all their strength.

It was not entirely because Morrow had helped them win a considerable amount of money...

They had gained a certain kind of spiritual satisfaction from watching his matches.

Morrow listened to the cheers surging toward him from every direction, as though they might tear the entire arena apart.

When he had first arrived in this city, he could not understand its almost fanatical atmosphere and enthusiasm.

But on the day of the preliminary matches, he had watched two master martial artists fight one another without restraint, and had found his own blood stirred by the spectacle.

Now, he could understand that feeling to some extent.

Surrounded by countless cheers, Morrow walked toward the competitors’ passage.

This place known as the Heaven’s Arena was no more than one corner of the entire world.

Yet it had allowed him to experience one of the flavors of life that could not be missed.

And the world was vast beyond imagination—

So he had to live well.

Just as expected, Morrow saw Huashidoulang and Calista along the route leading to the two-hundredth floor.

“Come with me.”

Morrow left them with those words once again, then walked toward the elevator.

This time, he had given them an answer.

At his words, Huashidoulang and Calista exchanged an involuntary glance.

The next moment, both of them turned away sharply and refused to look at each other again.

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