Chapter 86: Champion’s Ceremony and Sudden Engagement

The brief chat ended as the broadcast reminded the competitors to return to the waiting area, and everyone parted ways.

The First Military Academy crew clustered around Mu Chenxing as they headed forward:

“Star Bro’s a beast!”

“Star Bro’s the man!”

“I knew Star Bro wouldn’t let us down.”

Fu Yuefeng directly slung an arm around Mu Chenxing’s shoulders. “From now on, I’m the guy who threw the match for the champion, hahahaha! I’m the real badass!”

Mu Chenxing raised an eyebrow and shrugged off his arm. “Wanna spar right now?”

Fu Yuefeng: “…Nah, listen to the broadcast—they’re rushing us! Let’s go!”

“Hahaha, chickened out already? You fight, you lose!”

“Throwing the match was us giving you a shred of face.”

Fu Yuefeng huffed. “You’re all just jealous of me!”

“Bullshit, I’m already higher in the rankings than expected. Top ten’s enough for me to brag about for ten years.”

“Damn it, if I wasn’t considering our brotherhood, how would you have made top ten?”

“Was that you throwing it? If I hadn’t gotten careless, you wouldn’t have even gotten to face him!”

The group bantered noisily all the way back to their seating area.

The main screen already listed the finals results and rankings, and the AI Brain began passionately explaining the profound significance of this University Arena Competition.

No one paid attention; they were all chatting and messaging, reporting the results to friends and family.

Mu Chenxing was reassuring Luo Chen that he was safe while sharing the good news with classmates and friends.

In the Association group chat, Zhang Yunli had reported the victory early, spamming photos nonstop. The Omegas in the Association had watched the matches live and already knew the outcome; now they were discussing his injuries, debating if they’d scar and whether medical beauty treatments were needed.

Mu Chenxing: “…”

He decisively bailed on the topic.

Once the AI Brain finished its spiel, leaders from the event’s organizing body came out to give speeches and present awards.

All top fifty got medals and prizes, with the top three saved for last.

The competition area from before had been fully cleared away, replaced by an awards stage during the AI’s significance rundown—complete with stage lights.

After the leaders’ speeches wrapped, awards began. Mu Chenxing went down with the group to wait.

Once the lower placements were done, the host called his name, and he stepped up, standing between two towering Alphas.

The trophies for champion, runner-up, and third place were presented by the three highest-ranking leaders on site, with the champion’s naturally handled by the highest-ranking Admiral, Pei Yao.

Mu Chenxing was prepared. He stood straight, eyes forward in solemn focus.

Third place went first: Fu Yuefeng stepped up. A leader handed him the trophy, they shook hands with a “Congratulations,” then posed for photos under various devices as applause rang out.

Runner-up was the Alpha who’d injured Mu Chenxing; same procedure.

Champion’s turn. Mu Chenxing calmly stepped forward. He took the trophy from the beaming Pei Yao, shook hands—one said congratulations, the other thanks—then Pei Yao stood beside him as a swarm of recording devices circled for group shots.

Everything normal so far.

Then Pei Yao moved. He beckoned to a nearby host staffer.

Mu Chenxing turned in surprise, noting Pei Yao’s side profile had lost its smile, surrounded by that familiar cool chill. The cluster of leaders and winners nearby had gone pale.

He: “?”

The staffer looked terrified, approaching shakily.

But Pei Yao wasn’t after him. He eyed the device hovering above him. “Activate audio.”

The device bobbed up and down, signaling compliance.

Pei Yao turned away, scanning the surroundings. “Where’s the applause?”

His cold, low voice echoed through the Gymnasium.

Mu Chenxing froze. He’d completely missed the applause.

Pei Yao said coldly, “It seems you’re not convinced by an Omega champion. If anyone has doubts, step up now. I can arrange extra matches.”

The Gymnasium, packed with over ten thousand, fell deathly silent.

Mu Chenxing glanced at the hovering recorders but stayed put.

Pei Yao sneered. “You Alphas, with your superior physiques, lack the skill to claim victory and the grace to applaud your opponent—all for that cheap Alpha pride?”

A nearby leader hurried over, swallowing hard to smooth things. “They’re all outstanding Alliance youths—how could they be petty? They just hadn’t clapped yet… Right? Let’s hear the loudest applause for our Alliance’s first Omega University Arena Competition champion!” He started clapping first.

Applause erupted immediately.

Mu Chenxing traced the sound: his schoolmates, the teachers who’d joined them, Fu Yuefeng standing aside, and even the runner-up Alpha.

With a leader, hesitant claps spread, building into a massive wave of applause.

The oppressive pressure in the Gymnasium finally lifted.

The leader sighed in relief. “Very good—proves you’re all fine young people~”

As applause faded, he turned to Mu Chenxing. “Congratulations to student Mu Chenxing on winning this University Arena Competition!”

Mu Chenxing saluted. “Thank you.”

The leader chuckled. “If you don’t mind, Mu, let’s take a photo together? As the Alliance’s first Omega champion of a University Arena Competition, you’re bound to be a role model. Our pic might be archived for centuries.”

Mu Chenxing smiled. “My honor.”

The leader stepped right up, waving over the recorders. “Come on, snap a shot with Mu here.”

Mu Chenxing, who’d been standing closer to Pei Yao, turned slightly to approach—when Cool Silk Thread suddenly coiled around his ankle, snaking up his lower back to lock him in place.

He paused, clutching the trophy and holding his smile.

Pei Yao moved then.

He circled behind Mu Chenxing, clapped the leader on the shoulder, and wedged himself between them with a smile. “Mind if I join the photo?”

The leader beamed. “Wouldn’t dream of excluding you—come on~ group shot!”

Mu Chenxing: “…” Forced a smile.

Photos finally done, Mu Chenxing tried to bolt, but Fu Yuefeng called out: “Star Bro, group pic with us?”

“Sure.” Mu Chenxing returned, casually standing by Fu Yuefeng.

Just positioned, Pei Yao squeezed in again—no trace of his earlier chill, all smiles. “Mind if I join?”

The two Alpha students lit up, insisting no problem, and stepped back so he could stand in the middle.

Thus: champion on the right, Admiral center, runner-up and third on the left—a weirdly logical lineup for a bunch of shots.

Mid-shoot, that leader called for a big group photo.

Leaders with the three trophy winners.

Leaders with all top fifty competitors.

…

From start to finish, Pei Yao stuck like glue to Mu Chenxing’s side, arm loosely around his right shoulder, keeping anyone else at arm’s length.

Mu Chenxing endured the hovering recorders, fake-smiling through it all.

Photos finally over, he bolted with the trophy, ignoring Fu Yuefeng chasing behind, heart pounding as he reached the rest area—and faced the knowing, oddly smirking Fu Mingyuan and Zhang Yunli.

He dry-laughed, sat with the trophy.

Zhang Yunli leaned in, pretending to touch the trophy, whispering curses. “What’s his deal?”

Mu Chenxing eyed the trailing recorders, stayed silent.

In the arena, leaders returned to seats as host staff guided the next segment—everything normal.

Mu Chenxing relaxed a fraction.

His wristband pinged with a System message—

【Civil Affairs System friendly reminder: You have one pending task to handle.】

Mu Chenxing: ?

He tapped it open.

Pei Yao (Citizen ID: SSS1359XX…) invites Mu Chenxing (Citizen ID: A256XXX…) to establish a marriage betrothal.

Civil Affairs System check confirms irregular close contact within the past half-year, meeting online betrothal activation conditions. Verified: no coercion factors, no existing marriage, no major property disputes…

Documents and procedures clear…

Proceed with betrothal application? Agree and start signing?

A huge wall of text—clauses, checks, agreements—eye-watering.

But the red-highlighted confirmations of no-this, no-that were reassuring.

Mu Chenxing looked up at the judges’ seats.

Too far for faces, but he saw the other party chatting with someone.

…Not done on-site, then. No clue when he’d set it up.

Mu Chenxing sighed wordlessly and tapped agree.

Then the signing frenzy:

No existing marriage confirmation.

No major property disputes confirmation.

No hereditary disease history confirmation.

No coercion factors confirmation…

Finally, pledge to complete work/household relocation within two years and finalize marriage procedures.

Mu Chenxing signed a dozen docs, eyes blurring; by the end, he skimmed titles and signed. Done in one go.

wristband beeped:

【Congratulations to Citizen Pei Yao (SSS1359XX…) and Citizen Mu Chenxing (A256XXX…) on signing the betrothal agreement, effective immediately. The entire Alliance Civil Affairs System wishes you happiness.】

Mu Chenxing exhaled, closed the Holo-Screen, and tuned into the leaders’ droning: visions of the future, intercollegiate development plans, Omega rise, ABO harmony, etc.

Dozing off, he dove into Douyin instead—

UniversityArenaCompetition

Alliance’sFirstOmegaEver!

OmegaChampion

MuChenxing

AllAlphasDead?

…

First trending topic: millions of comments.

“University Arena Competition might as well rename to Comedy Ring.”

“Does this comp have any prestige left?”

“No one watching now that an Omega won!”

“Admiral Pei told those Alphas to have the guts to lose gracefully, but you can’t even admit it.”

“If it was anyone else? This Omega looks like a housepet who can’t even wipe a table—what gives?”

“Too fake. Were the strong Alphas drugged?”

“Capital at work? Top Alphas probably bribed to sit out.”

“Look at you Alpha losers!”

…

Mu Chenxing tsked inwardly.

His win had bruised a lot of Alpha egos.

Scrolling on—Betas jumping in to bash him too?

He was engrossed when Fu Yuefeng from behind shoved his Holo-Screen over. “Star Bro, champ-and-third pic!!”

Mu Chenxing blinked, threw up a peace sign, and smiled at the lens.

Fu Yuefeng pulled back, satisfied. “Posting to Douyin for clicks.” He edited away.

Others hunched over, typing furiously—faces twisted in online brawls.

Mu Chenxing thought, opened Douyin too.

Notifications piled up.

He ignored, snapped a trophy pic, no caption, posted.

wristband vibrated—friends reposting his photo.

@LiDuoduo: Congrats Star Bro on the win!

@FuYuefeng: Congrats my Star Bro on the win!

@XiaoxiaoDoesntKnow: Congrats…

…

Looks like they’re all out there flaming, Mu Chenxing mused.

He shut repost alerts, planning group messages to cool everyone down.

wristband shook again.

Once, twice, then non-stop frenzy—even Zhang Yunli glanced over.

Mu Chenxing missed it, opened up a flood of notifications.

Tong Xiao: ?

Xia Weizhen: ?

Luo Chen: ?!

Li Duoduo: ?

…

Association group: string of question marks.

Mu Chenxing: ?

He typed in the group: What’s up?

Sudden gasps from behind:

“Shit!”

“Fuck!”

“My god?”

“Am I seeing this?”

“You seeing it too?”

Mu Chenxing waited for replies, heard the noise, turned blankly—

Faced a sea of wide-eyed, pupil-shaking shock faces.

He raised a brow. “What? My merit badge too handsome?”

Next to him, Fu Yuefeng stammered: “N-no, it’s just, uh… that thing… real?”

Mu Chenxing puzzled: “What thing?”

Out of nowhere.

Beside them, Lao Ma slapped Fu Yuefeng excitedly, jabbing a finger at him then a direction, incoherent: “Star Bro, you, your man—”

Mu Chenxing’s heart skipped.

Before he could speak, the equally excited Fu Yuefeng shoved his wristband’s Holo-Screen right in his face—

@Pei Yao: My wife, isn’t he handsome?

Attached image: A bruised and swollen-faced Omega kicking his opponent flying—Mu Chenxing himself.

Mu Chenxing: “！！！”

Fuck!!