The Esports Little Demon King Is a Sweet and Fierce Omega - Chapter 20

Everyone had assumed that a promising talent like Tian Jiu would inevitably fall for Feng Wu’s overwhelming charm, following in the footsteps of previous Omegas. However, the moment he said, “I really like you,” the crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.

It was common knowledge that due to his unique constitution, Feng Wu disliked nothing more than people who harbored romantic feelings for him, especially teammates. Tian Jiu, unaware that his words had just “decided his fate,” looked up at Feng Wu expectantly, his face flushed.

Like?

Feng Wu stood up straight. He had a feeling that the “like” Tian Jiu mentioned wasn’t exactly the same as the “like” he was thinking of. Yet, he couldn’t stop the feeling of “spring blossoms and fireworks” going off in his heart. It was strange, but unexpectedly, it didn’t repel him.

Was he really entering a rut, as Zhou Funian suggested?

“What’s going on here?” Zhou Funian rushed back from the restroom and said with pleasant surprise, “Little Tian Jiu, do you want to join our FOX?”

“Coach Zhou!” Tian Jiu’s eyes sparkled. “Can I? Are you willing to sign me?” He knew Coach Zhou was the only coach and a partner of FOX; he had done his homework and knew Zhou Funian held significant weight in recruitment.

Zhou Funian glanced at Feng Wu. Seeing that the man didn’t seem to have any intention of refusing, he suddenly felt confident. He smiled with paternal warmth and said, “Of course we…”

“Of course not!” an urgent voice shouted from the crowd. “Move! Let us through!”

The crowd parted slightly as Luo Yuan, Ji Kaile, and the Ji couple squeezed through.

“Xiao Yin.” Luo Yuan grabbed Tian Jiu’s shoulder and smiled. “Come to AS. I’ll speak to the manager; the team will give you excellent treatment. Besides, Lele and I are there. The three of us can be together again.”

Ji Kaile also offered a gentle smile. “That’s right, Xiao Yin. If you’re with us, we can take better care of you.”

Tian Jiu felt these two were incredibly bizarre. Without me to act as their foil, could they not survive or something? He frowned, pushed Luo Yuan away, and silently hid behind Feng Wu. Being small, he was completely shielded by Feng Wu’s tall, imposing frame.

“Xiao Yin!” Luo Yuan couldn’t believe Tian Jiu was ignoring him.

Feng Wu was a bit surprised, but he didn’t move. He simply stood there with his arms crossed, acting as a human shield for Tian Jiu. Faced with Feng Wu, both Ji Kaile and Luo Yuan felt a sense of intimidation. He was a Super S+ Alpha and a senior veteran; even though his pheromones were perfectly controlled, his mere presence was unsettling.

Ji Kaile didn’t dare look at him, but his face had already turned red. This was Feng Wu. Even just being close, he felt an uncontrollable mix of shyness and nervousness. Furthermore, he was an S+ Omega. One of the few in the entire galaxy. He remembered people from the Pheromone Management Bureau visiting their house, saying that if Feng Wu ever suffered a manic episode, an S+ like him could try to soothe him.

Perhaps, in the future, he and Feng Wu would truly have a chance for contact.

“God Wu, you aren’t actually planning to sign Xiao Yin, are you?” Luo Yuan asked, biting the bullet.

Tian Jiu immediately pricked up his ears and looked up at Feng Wu. Wow, such broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a beautiful neckline. His thick black hair is so neatly styled… He looked so good that even his back was captivating.

Feng Wu turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and after a micro-pause, Feng Wu asked, “Do you know these two?”

Tian Jiu peeked out from behind him, glanced at Luo Yuan and Ji Kaile, and then shook his head without changing his expression. “I don’t know them.”

“Xiao Yin?!” Luo Yuan was stunned. But Tian Jiu had already ducked back behind Feng Wu.

Feng Wu dealt a ruthless blow to Luo Yuan: “Did you hear that? My teammate says he doesn’t know you.”

“We grew up together! How could he not…” Luo Yuan paused, horrified. “What did you say? Teammate?!”

Feng Wu gave him zero face. “Stop trying to claim kinship. Can’t you people at AS focus on improving your skills instead of using these underhanded tactics?”

Luo Yuan and Ji Kaile turned pale. Shadow, holding his runner-up trophy, shook his head in silence, feeling a bit embarrassed for them.

“Xiao Yin, stop messing around and come home with us,” Ji Xianzhang intervened, his voice deep. The couple was panicked that Tian Jiu would join FOX. With his skill as a champion, he could join a veteran team like WIN. Even if WIN rejected him for lacking pheromones, AS was still an option. At the very least, he could join Team FB, which had many Beta players.

Everyone could see how dilapidated FOX was. They had to stop Tian Jiu from being stupid.

“Xiao Yin, come here! Don’t be a fool, FOX is on the verge of disbanding!” Mrs. Ji cried urgently.

Feng Wu looked at the couple with a half-smile but didn’t react. Ji Xianzhang gave Feng Wu a strained smile and said, “Mr. Feng, Ji Yin is my youngest son. He only wants to be on your team because he admires you, but you can see he has a bright future. FOX is not his best choice. Besides, you’ve never accepted a top-ten contestant before, have you? Why not let him go?”

Tian Jiu’s eyelids twitched. He stepped out from behind Feng Wu and snapped, “It’s none of your business what I do. We’ve already signed the separation agreement. Now that you see me win the championship, you want to claim a connection? Where was this ‘flesh and blood’ spirit when you were bullying me and throwing me out?”

“Now, Xiao Yin… can family ties really be severed just by a contract?” Ji Xianzhang continued to lobby shamelessly. He had already lost face once; doing it again didn’t matter. The important thing was to bring Tian Jiu home so they could treat him well and let him “whitewash” their reputation.

The onlookers in the stadium and the viewers on the livestream were shocked by the family’s audacity.

[“How does he have the nerve to use the words ‘flesh and blood’?”]

[“Tian Jiu is so pitiful. What kind of parents did he end up with?”]

[“I thought Luo Yuan and Ji Kaile were good to him… wait, did we forget who pushed him off a balcony?”]

People weren’t even lowering their voices. They couldn’t stand the family’s behavior. Hearing this, Ji Kaile’s eyes welled with tears as he looked up at Feng Wu with an aggrieved, “white lotus” expression, looking like he wanted to explain but didn’t dare. To any other Alpha, this might have triggered a protective instinct. But against Feng Wu, Ji Kaile’s performance was wasted.

Luo Yuan also felt embarrassed, but he was unwilling to leave without Tian Jiu. He didn’t trust Tian Jiu being around Feng Wu every day, given Feng Wu’s “history” and Tian Jiu’s innocence. Eventually, Tian Jiu would fall for Feng Wu, and that was unacceptable! He reached forward to grab Tian Jiu’s hand.

Tian Jiu immediately put his hands behind his back and said unhappily, “Don’t touch me.”

“Xiao Yin, you’re still mad at me, aren’t you? I know I should have visited you in the hospital, but I can make it up to you. Come home first, and I’ll explain everything.”

Luo Yuan felt he had given Tian Jiu a sufficient “out,” but Tian Jiu simply stepped back, hiding behind Feng Wu again. Mrs. Ji charged forward to grab him, but Feng Wu blocked her. He grabbed her wrist and then let go, preventing her from touching the boy.

“What are you doing?!” Mrs. Ji screamed at Feng Wu. “He’s my son! By what right do you stop me from taking him home?”

Feng Wu didn’t bother arguing with her. He looked over her head at Ji Xianzhang. “Mr. Ji, I don’t like wasting words.”

Feng Wu was still smiling, but Ji Xianzhang suddenly felt a massive, suffocating wave of pheromone pressure crashing down on him. His legs went weak instantly. If he hadn’t grabbed Luo Yuan, he would have collapsed. His face turned deathly pale, and sweat rolled down his forehead.

“Uncle Ji, what’s wrong?” Luo Yuan asked, startled.

Ji Xianzhang couldn’t speak. He stared at Feng Wu with pure terror. Feng Wu’s smile remained as he said warmly, “The contract you signed with Tian Jiu is legally binding. Don’t treat the Galactic Law like a decoration. You understand me, right?”

Ji Xianzhang trembled and nodded with great effort. The heavy pressure vanished instantly. He gasped for air, his chest heaving.

“Mr. Ji is indeed a sensible man,” Feng Wu laughed. “I’ll be taking my teammate back now.”

Mrs. Ji wanted to scream again, but her husband silenced her hoarsely. With so many people watching and Feng Wu present, they couldn’t afford to keep humiliating themselves. There’s time later, he thought. Once Tian Jiu signs with FOX, Feng Wu is just an outsider. He can’t be closer than his own parents. We’ll just pay the termination fee and bring him back later.

However, Ji Xianzhang was still shaken. Feng Wu’s pheromone pressure had been targeted solely at him; even Luo Yuan, standing right next to him, hadn’t noticed anything wrong. To think a Super S+ Alpha could control his pheromones to such an extent…

As Feng Wu prepared to leave, Shadow raised his hand. “God Wu, are you really signing Tian Jiu?”

Feng Wu glanced at him, remembering this was the contestant who had been most hostile toward him and most “interested” in Tian Jiu’s red panda ears. Truly an AS player; always manages to be unlikable.

“Signing?” Tian Jiu whispered, tugging at Feng Wu’s sleeve.

Feng Wu looked down. The little Omega’s eyes were large and bright, full of expectation. Looking at him from that angle was… distracting. Feng Wu looked away and gave a simple, “Mhm.”

“You really agreed to have me, Captain!” Tian Jiu cheered. The wording was slightly ambiguous, but technically correct.

“What do you think?” Feng Wu laughed. He was already calling him “Captain.”

“Yay!” Tian Jiu’s tiger teeth were on full display. Feng Wu paused, then turned to Zhou Funian. “Let’s go, Old Zhou.”

Zhou Funian hadn’t finished watching the drama yet, nor had he contacted any other players on his list. Are we really only signing one person? We can’t even form a full team. But since the boss had spoken, he had to follow.

Reporters wanted more, but with Feng Wu there, no one dared to crowd them. Still, the news of “Tian Jiu joins FOX” was enough to hit their KPIs, not to mention that “I like you” to Feng Wu. This was the first time Feng Wu hadn’t rejected an Omega’s confession, even if it was the “like” of an admirer.

*******

Tian Jiu followed Feng Wu with a skip in his step. If he weren’t afraid of Feng Wu thinking he was childish, he would have been hopping. Between the interview zone and the parking lot, he kept glancing at his brand-new captain.

If it were any other Omega, Feng Wu would have told them to get lost. But with Tian Jiu, he found it tolerable, even worth indulging. Zhou Funian followed behind, carrying Tian Jiu’s trophy, feeling like there was definitely something “suspicious” going on. Feng Wu is definitely entering a rut. He’s behaving way too strangely.

By the tenth time Tian Jiu glanced over, Feng Wu finally broke. “Stop looking. You’re going to hit a tree,” he teased.

“I won’t hit a tree,” Tian Jiu shook his head. He wasn’t like that previous teammate who stared at Feng Wu while an enemy assassin was in their face.

“You aren’t even asking where I’m taking you? You’re just following me like this?”

“Mhm.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you?”

“No, you’re the Captain.”

“I’m also an Alpha.”

Tian Jiu said immediately, “You’re different from other Alphas.”

“Oh? How so?”

“You’re better looking,” Tian Jiu answered honestly.

Feng Wu: “…That’s it?”

“You’re also stronger, and your pheromone level is higher.” Tian Jiu counted his virtues on his fingers.

Feng Wu found these sincere compliments quite pleasant. “Go on, say more.”

“You’re also easy to talk to, and you protect me…”

Zhou Funian followed behind them, finally feeling like he was being “isolated.” It was a wonderful feeling; he was so happy he could cry! Finally, I won’t be the only one Feng Wu targets!

*****

The FOX Club:

The FOX Club was a three-story garden villa in the city. A massive FOX logo stood on the roof, glowing with white light. As the owner arrived, the AI butler adjusted the temperature, and bionic servants prepared coffee, drinks, and snacks.

“The team hasn’t had an Omega in a long time,” Zhou Funian said as he gave Tian Jiu a new pair of slippers. “These might be a bit big. I’ll buy you new ones later, or you can bring your own from home.”

Tian Jiu thanked the coach politely, put on the oversized slippers, and shuffled into the house. The living room had a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the garden. Near the window was a rug with cushions. The afternoon tea zone. In the center of the room were five cocoon-shaped gaming pods, sleek and silver with soft glowing edges.

“So cool!” Tian Jiu ran a few steps, nearly losing a slipper, and quickly slowed to a fast walk.

“Pick one you like,” Feng Wu said.

“Where do you sit, Captain?”

“The one in the middle.”

“Then I’ll take the one on your right.”

Feng Wu nodded. “Get in and try it out. You can log in your account.”

“Master, new device detected. Trust and log in?” Erguotou asked.

“Yes.”

A second later, Tian Jiu saw his Star-Net, virtual, and game accounts all logged in. Three boxes appeared on his virtual screen: Star-Net, Hallworth, and Fengshen. There were several congratulatory messages on Star-Net from Li Zhen and Old Zhao. Zhao Qingqing had also messaged him saying she saw his clothes were torn in the match, so she had sent a duplicate “Red Panda” onesie to his game mail.

Tian Jiu replied to them and checked his mail. A separate window popped up, and he clicked to receive the new outfit. He could even see his inventory right there without entering Hallworth. The pro-team gaming pods were truly magical! And so comfortable!

Feng Wu was amused. He realized Tian Jiu wore his heart on his sleeve—hated what he hated, loved what he loved. He was straightforward and adorable. And his face… it looked so soft, like a glutinous rice cake. He wondered if it felt as soft as it looked.

“Captain, do you have something to say?” Tian Jiu asked, looking up.

Feng Wu rubbed his fingertips and smiled. “Want to play a round with me?”

“Yes!”

“Later,” Zhou Funian said, approaching with a service robot carrying drinks. He gave Feng Wu a coffee and asked Tian Jiu, “What do you want to drink, Xiao Jiu?”

“Milk tea!”

“You got it.” Zhou Funian received a sweet smile and a “Thank you, Coach” from the new member. He felt his paternal instincts fully awaken.

Feng Wu leaned back in his pod and looked at him. “What’s up?”

“The new member, of course.” Zhou Funian sat down. “I didn’t have time to contact other players today, so the team only has the two of you right now.” He looked at Feng Wu. “I assume the list I compiled is useless now, right?”

Feng Wu sipped his coffee and didn’t speak. He had been unusual today. Even if he liked Tian Jiu, he shouldn’t have brought him back; FOX wasn’t a good environment for a trial champion. But the moment Tian Jiu asked, “Can you let me join FOX?”, things had gone off track. Now that the boy was here, he couldn’t just let things drift. If he wanted to build a strong team to take Tian Jiu to the top, he had to be realistic. With his constitution, top players wouldn’t join. But if the skill gap was too wide, they wouldn’t survive the league.

Zhou Funian knew the struggle, but he wanted to try. Feng Wu’s attitude toward Tian Jiu was special. Whatever the emotion was, if it made Feng Wu care again, it was a good thing.

“What’s wrong?” Tian Jiu asked. “What list?”

“Xiao Jiu,” Zhou Funian said warmly. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure!”

“What are your thoughts on the upcoming league?”

“I want to win the championship, of course,” Tian Jiu answered without thinking.

As expected. Feng Wu smiled and said nothing.

“Do you know that in the five years since FOX was founded, we’ve never made it into the Upper League? We only made it into the Middle League in our first year.”

The Fengshen League consisted of the top 26 teams divided into three tiers: the Top 6, the Middle 8, and the Bottom 12. Teams had to fight their way up. Winners of the Bottom tier would fight the lower-ranked teams of the Middle tier for a spot, and so on. Teams like WIN and AS were perpetual championship contenders. FOX usually stalled in the Bottom tier.

Tian Jiu knew this history. “I know. But wasn’t that before? This year might be different.”

“You think we can win?” Zhou Funian didn’t even believe it himself.

“Yeah. Captain is number one, and I’m number one. We have two number ones on the team. It shouldn’t be that hard.”

Zhou Funian actually found that somewhat logical.

Feng Wu watched Tian Jiu in silence for a long time, then suddenly laughed. “Captain?”

Feng Wu stood up and handed his cup to the robot. “You’re right. It’s just a championship. It’s not hard.”

“Right!” Tian Jiu followed him as he headed upstairs to pick a bedroom. “So Captain, can we find some really strong teammates?”

“Mhm.”

Tian Jiu stuck to him like glue. “So I can train with you every day from now on?”

“I’ll be very strict,” Feng Wu smiled.

“I’m not afraid! I want to learn combat from you. You’re so cool and strong when you play a Swordsman.”

“Is that so? Am I not strong when I play an Assassin?”

“You are, but I can’t see your face when you’re an Assassin.” Tian Jiu had seen the replays; Feng Wu always covered himself up as an Assassin. As a fan, he preferred the Swordsman. He could see the face, the physique, and the skill.

“So if you can’t see my face, you can’t recognize me?”

“No way!” Tian Jiu vowed. “Don’t underestimate my love for you. Even if you disguised yourself as Old Zhao, I’d still know it was you.”

Feng Wu realized something and said intentionally, “So you recognized me and still rejected me?”

“Rejected? How could I ever refuse you?”

They reached the second floor. Feng Wu opened a bedroom door and leaned against it with a half-smile. Tian Jiu peeked at the clean room and then looked up at him.

“Captain, you’re teasing me on purpose, aren’t you?” he whispered. “I never rejected you. You’re the one who almost didn’t let me join the team.”

Feng Wu chuckled, wanting to ruffle the boy’s hair. “Let me remind you then. Once, there was an Assassin named ‘No Killing’ who cleared the canyon with you, but you turned around and refused to know him.”

Tian Jiu: “!!!”

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