The Esports Little Demon King Is a Sweet and Fierce Omega - Chapter 3

Mrs. Ji was used to constant criticism, and the original son had always been submissive, never daring to talk back. Consequently, when Tian Jiu stood there with a well-behaved posture but delivered such a crisp, defiant remark, the family of three was stunned.

“What did you say?” Mrs. Ji asked in disbelief.

Tian Jiu’s eyes curved into a smile, revealing two small tiger teeth as he explained in an exceptionally kind tone, “I said I am upsetting you on purpose.”

Then, he sighed and muttered to himself as if troubled, “I am speaking human language, so why can’t you understand me?”

“Nonsense!” Mr. Ji’s brow furrowed deeply.

Ji Kaile also observed Tian Jiu with uncertainty. Upon closer inspection, he finally noticed that Tian Jiu seemed a bit strange. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but the boy certainly didn’t resemble the cowardly loser from before. That loser would never have smiled so brilliantly and piercingly.

Had he really damaged his brain during the fall?

Regardless, Ji Kaile was more than happy to see Tian Jiu openly defy their parents. While no one spoke for a moment, the three of them seemed to be processing what had just occurred. Tian Jiu watched their wavering expressions with great interest until Ji Kaile finally reacted and spoke up first.

“Xiao Yin, don’t be angry with Mom and Dad. I know you must be blaming me,” Ji Kaile said, his brows knit slightly and his voice sounding so aggrieved that he seemed ready to cry at any second.

Tian Jiu looked at him in surprise. “Oh, so you actually knew I was blaming you?”

Ji Kaile choked for a moment before whispering, “I didn’t mean it that night. I was truly scared to death when I saw you fall…”

“Lele, don’t talk nonsense. He fell because he tried to harm you and failed. It was his own bad luck, so stop taking everything upon yourself,” Mrs. Ji interrupted with a frown. “Hasn’t Ji Yin caused enough trouble since he was a child? Can you really cover for him for the rest of your life?”

No one had noticed the moment Ji Yin fell that night. By the time a panicked Ji Kaile led them to the spot, a large pool of blood had already formed around Ji Yin’s head, and he was half-dead. Everyone at the birthday banquet had been terrified that a life would be lost, but fortunately, Ji Yin was hardy enough to survive.

Although Ji Kaile kept insisting he had accidentally pushed him, the parents believed he was far too sensible to be that careless. Under their questioning and comfort, Ji Kaile finally revealed the “truth”: Ji Yin had tried to push him but accidentally fell over the ledge himself.

The thought that it could have been Ji Kaile in that hospital bed made Mrs. Ji dislike Ji Yin even more. Even if Ji Kaile had pushed him, it was only what Ji Yin deserved. Regardless of the truth, the narrative had to remain that Ji Yin brought it upon himself, otherwise the public would tear Ji Kaile apart.

Mr. Ji also addressed Tian Jiu, “It’s time you learned a lesson. An Omega without pheromones should stay in his place and stop causing trouble for the family.”

Tian Jiu watched the three of them, absolutely marveled. A person shouldn’t or at least couldn’t, be this shameless. Ji Kaile had clearly pushed him, yet this family insisted he was “reaping what he sowed.” It was truly absurd.

Tian Jiu couldn’t help but scan the ward with an inquisitive gaze.

“What are you looking at?” Mrs. Ji snapped.

Tian Jiu replied earnestly, “I’m looking for hidden cameras. You’re acting so convincingly that it would be a pity not to record it.”

“Shut up!” Mr. Ji was clearly incensed as he issued a warning. “Leave right now, and you had better keep your mouth shut when you see people outside. Our Ji family cannot afford to lose face like this.”

Having said his piece, he turned and left the ward. Mrs. Ji glared at Tian Jiu before following him out. Ji Kaile looked at Tian Jiu with a faint frown and whispered, “Xiao Yin, I’m here to take you home. Please stop being mad at me, okay? I’ll buy you a new gemstone bracelet to replace the one that broke.”

The bracelet, being the “catalyst” for the fall, had naturally been sacrificed that night. However, it hadn’t “shattered” from the fall as Ji Kaile claimed; rather, Ji Kaile had physically torn it off him.

Ji Kaile’s true talent lay in his ability to wear the mask of a “white lotus” at all times, using his delicate Omega identity to feign innocence while committing various acts of malice. Even now, after pushing Tian Jiu off a building and snapping his bracelet, he could still pretend to be a guilt-ridden, loving brother.

The original owner was always deceived by this mask and ended up looking like a fool, but Tian Jiu was different. He stepped toward Ji Kaile with an expression even more innocent than his brother’s. “Brother, how could I ever be angry with you?”

Ji Kaile’s face stiffened for a second before he breathed a sigh of relief. This idiot was just as gullible as before; no matter what happened, a bit of feigned guilt was enough to make him believe anything. Ji Kaile smiled, preparing to endure his disgust and perform a heartfelt reconciliation, but then Tian Jiu continued.

“I just wanted to see exactly how thick your skin is.”

The smile on Ji Kaile’s lips froze instantly. He stared at Tian Jiu in shock, unable to believe such words could come from his mouth.

Tian Jiu went on, “Now I know. Your skin is so thick it’s comparable to bulletproof glass. And don’t bother buying a new bracelet; just give me the cash value for it.”

He finished speaking and walked out of the ward without looking back, giving Ji Kaile no time to react. Left behind, Ji Kaile’s face turned livid once the shock wore off. When did this loser become so sharp-tongued? It seemed the fall really had scrambled his brains.

This time, he would find a way to kick this eyesore out of the house for good. He wanted his family and friends all to himself, and he wanted Tian Jiu completely exiled from the Upper District. Once Tian Jiu was driven to the Lower District, he would see if that pretty face brought him suitors or nothing but disaster.

Ji Kaile took two deep breaths to force his expression back into its usual pure and harmless state. Five minutes later, the Ji family of four finally appeared at the hospital entrance.

“Mr. Ji, how exactly did Ji Yin get injured?”

“Is it true, as rumored online, that Ji Kaile pushed him?”

“Are you picking him up just because of the public pressure on the internet?”

The reporters were clearly there for Ji Kaile, hoping to leech off his popularity, and their questions were laced with malice. Ji Kaile shielded Ji Yin with his body and refused to answer, repeatedly telling the crowding reporters in a soft voice, “Please don’t push, my brother is still very weak.”

Mr. Ji also spread his arms to protect his wife and two sons. As the only Alpha in the family, he naturally took on the duty of protection. To an outsider, it looked like a picture-perfect, loving family.

Tian Jiu walked within their protection, perfectly avoiding the jostling of the press. He kept his head lowered, his bangs obscuring his eyes so no one could see his expression. After walking a short distance, he suddenly stopped, causing everyone else to halt as well.

The three members of the Ji family stiffened, wondering what this unusual version of Tian Jiu was going to do next.

“Xiao Yin, let’s go.” Mrs. Ji reached out to grab Tian Jiu’s arm, her fingers pinching him hard in a place where no one could see.

“Sss—” Tian Jiu whipped his arm back violently.

The force of his withdrawal caused Mrs. Ji to stumble forward from the momentum, only for Mr. Ji to catch her just in time. The crowd watched in shock, and the reporters were stunned as countless lenses zoomed in on him.

Tian Jiu rolled up his sleeve in pain, revealing a fair arm marked by a clearly visible, purple bruise from the pinch. His eyes welled with tears as he looked at Mrs. Ji and asked in a trembling voice, “Mom, why did you pinch me again?”

The air seemed to stagnate for a moment. The faces of the three Ji family members turned white one after another, while the reporters grew more excited. Before the press could even start firing questions, Tian Jiu continued with an aggrieved tone, “Can’t I just agree to your terms? I’ll leave after I take the portion of the estate you promised me. I won’t ever come back to the Ji family, and I won’t embarrass you anymore.”

This sentence was like a thunderclap on a clear day. Not only was the Ji family stunned, but the reporters were as well. Once they snapped out of it, the reporters swarmed the four of them with even more fervor than before.

Hours later, the four of them finally returned to the Ji residence. The three of them were exhausted, both physically and mentally. Tian Jiu’s short sentence was packed with information: it stated his intent to leave the family while simultaneously framing the Ji family as cold-blooded.

Ji Kaile and his parents were fuming, but they had to maintain a forced smile for the public, dismissing it as “Xiao Yin talking nonsense” while they hurried away. During the ride home, the car was silent and the atmosphere was heavy. Tian Jiu closed his eyes as Erguotou read the online comments to him.

The scene at the hospital entrance had already gone viral on Star-Net. Fans, haters, and bystanders were all joining the fray.

[What an ungrateful brat Ji Yin is! The Ji family, especially Lele, treats him so well, yet he puts on a show to slander them! I’m so angry!]

[Looking at Mrs. Ji’s technique, it’s clear that domestic abuse is a habit. There’s no telling how much Ji Yin has suffered at home. I bet Ji Kaile really did push him.]

[Is the Omega Protection Law unable to deter these nouveau riche? To dare pinch him in public, who knows what sordid things they’ve done behind closed doors!]

[I think all four of them are awful. The rich people in the Upper District are just too bored, so bored they spend every day fighting like dogs. Hahaha.]

*******

Ji Kaile saw these comments too. His coach had already messaged him to scold him, and he had to apologize profusely, terrified that his professional career might be affected. The team’s PR department was already handling the situation, but even if they cleared it up, his “good boy” image would definitely suffer. This was all Tian Jiu’s fault!

He turned his head to look out the window. The glass reflected Tian Jiu sitting beside him, and the more he looked at that beautiful face, the more he hated it.

Ji Xianzhang and his wife were also deep in thought, planning how to punish Tian Jiu once they got home and how to explain this to the public. If they had been thinking of kicking him out before, the explosive public opinion meant they couldn’t do it now. They had to endure their disgust and keep him for a while longer. However, while they would keep him, his future days certainly wouldn’t be as easy as before!

Their plans were grand, but upon arriving home, they found officials from the Omega Protection Association already waiting for them. According to the law, Omegas, as a vulnerable group, had the right to self-protection. This included the right to unilaterally leave overly controlling Alpha partners or abusive families.

Tian Jiu had been studying the laws for several days and had noticed the reporters always following the family, so he had come up with this method. Posting that update on Star-Net before being discharged was a tactic to draw the reporters in. He had originally intended to use his injuries from the fall as leverage, but Mrs. Ji had handed him a much more direct reason on a silver platter—the bruise on his arm. This wasn’t something Tian Jiu had made up; judging by Mrs. Ji’s practiced technique, she had pinched the original owner many times.

When Ji Xianzhang saw the uniformed officials, he immediately lost the sternness he had shown Tian Jiu. He shook the official’s hand with a flattering air, engaging in polite small talk. “Why are you here so suddenly? You must have waited a long time. Please, come inside.”

“Not long,” the official replied with a stoic face. He shook hands and then looked at Tian Jiu, who was walking at the back of the group.

Tian Jiu’s brain automatically identified the person. This was a female Omega named Bai Ruona, one of the heads of the current Omega Protection Organization and a prominent advocate for Omega rights. He had seen her profile online. It was rumored that she rarely handled cases personally anymore, so her presence suggested this incident had gained significant influence.

Guessing the purpose of her visit, Tian Jiu gave her a weak smile, allowing a hint of hope to shine in his eyes. Seeing his pale face, Bai Ruona felt a pang of sorrow. She couldn’t stand seeing Omegas being bullied. If it weren’t for Tian Jiu’s severe injury and the public display of domestic abuse, who knew how long he would have suffered? Thinking that Tian Jiu might have endured even worse treatment in private, she had no kind words for the Ji couple.

Once inside, the three Ji family members sat on one sofa while Tian Jiu and Bai Ruona sat opposite them. Ji Kaile frowned slightly, looking at Tian Jiu occasionally with a hesitant expression as if unsure what emotion to show. Mrs. Ji, who had been arrogant in front of Tian Jiu, didn’t dare speak before a government official. She sat there awkwardly, cursing Tian Jiu as a “troublemaker” a thousand times in her head.

The only one who could speak was Ji Xianzhang, who kept explaining, “You’ve misunderstood. We never said we wanted to kick Xiao Yin out. He is my child, how could I treat him like that?”

He certainly wanted Tian Jiu gone; he had even prepared the severance contract. That way, they wouldn’t have to support a loser or be mocked by other families. But even though that was the plan, he couldn’t say it now. Even if they were to send him away, it had to look like Tian Jiu insisted on leaving despite their best efforts to make him stay.

Bai Ruona scrutinized him and asked coldly, “Then why did Ji Yin fall from the second floor? And how do you explain the pinch on his arm?”

“He fell on his own, it had nothing to do with us!” Mrs. Ji hurried to argue. “The bruise… I, I pinched him by accident.”

In her haste to distance herself, she inadvertently exposed her attitude toward Tian Jiu. Those were not the words of a loving mother. Bai Ruona’s face turned grim. “Is that so?”

Ji Kaile and his father realized things were going south, but before they could explain further, Bai Ruona raised a hand to stop them. Their explanations didn’t matter; the association only cared about the “victim’s” thoughts.

“Xiao Yin, you don’t have to worry. Just tell the truth,” Bai Ruona asked gently. “Tell Auntie Bai, do you want to leave the Ji family, or do you want to stay here?”

“I…” Tian Jiu lowered his head, not looking at the people across from him, appearing as though he was afraid to meet their eyes.

Bai Ruona had seen many Omegas like this. Often, they chose to endure because society was not friendly to Omegas living independently. In such cases, the organization was powerless. She sighed inwardly, thinking he would likely stay. She would just have to open a file for him and have the organization conduct periodic visits.

But in the next moment, she heard Tian Jiu’s small but firm voice. “I want to leave the Ji family.”

Bai Ruona was stunned, and her heart softened further. This was just a nineteen-year-old child, only a few years older than her own. She patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Don’t be afraid. You won’t be bullied anymore.”

She turned back to the other three, her tone becoming sharp and cold. “According to Article 7 of the Yahua Star System Omega Protection Law…”

At this point, even if the Ji family didn’t want him to go, they had no choice. The subsequent process was smooth and rapid. Tian Jiu was granted a large, furnished residence in a prosperous area of the Upper District, three high-profit shops, and 200 million in liquid assets. This was much more than what Ji Xianzhang had planned to give him, and it was enough for Tian Jiu to live a comfortable life forever.

Tian Jiu packed his personal belongings, and a specialized vehicle from the Protection Association would transport them to his new home. When he appeared at the top of the stairs lightly carrying two massive suitcases, the people below were dumbfounded. Compared to Tian Jiu’s slender frame who’s 1.7 meters tall and barely 50 kilograms, the two suitcases were absurdly large.

Ji Kaile was the first to react, hurrying up the stairs to help. He was only doing it for Bai Ruona’s benefit so she wouldn’t think he bullied his brother too. Seeing how easily Tian Jiu carried them, he assumed the large cases were mostly empty. “Xiao Yin, let me help you with those.”

Tian Jiu looked surprised. “Are you sure?”

Ji Kaile pursed his lips and said softly, “In the future, you might not need my help anymore. So for now, let your brother help you one last time.”

Tian Jiu blinked and handed one of the suitcases over, giving a kind warning, “It’s a bit heavy.”

“Okay.” Ji Kaile caught Bai Ruona’s sigh out of the corner of his eye and felt relieved. She would surely think the brothers still had a good relationship; let his parents be the villains. With that thought, and seeing that Tian Jiu was truly leaving, he gave a rare, genuine smile as he took the handle.

Thump!

The bottom of the suitcase slammed onto the edge of the stairs, half on a step and half dangling in the air. Ji Kaile gripped the handle with both hands, his face turning red from the strain as he fought to keep it from slipping.

Tian Jiu looked at him innocently. “I told you it was a bit heavy.”

A bit?! Ji Kaile’s teeth were gritted and his arms were trembling.

Tian Jiu’s eyes curved into a smile. “I’ll head down first. I’ll leave the other suitcase to you as well.” He placed the second suitcase steadily on the step and walked down with light steps, leaving a fuming Ji Kaile behind.

Mr. Ji frowned, feeling dissatisfied with the situation, but with Bai Ruona present, he couldn’t scold Tian Jiu. He also couldn’t watch his son lose face, so he walked up the stairs with a dark expression, intending to lift the case with one hand. As a strong Alpha, he found himself unable to budge it with a single hand. He was startled, but for the sake of his pride, he forced himself to pick up the second case with one hand anyway. The veins on the back of his hand bulged and his face turned crimson.

“Dad,” Ji Kaile whispered for help.

Mr. Ji took a deep breath and used his other hand to take the one from Ji Kaile. Standing below, Tian Jiu looked up at their two bright red faces and Mr. Ji’s trembling, forced composure, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. Bai Ruona didn’t know how Tian Jiu had done it, but she found the scene somewhat amusing herself, though she suppressed her laughter.

“Mr. Ji, if you can’t carry them, just say so. I can do it myself,” Tian Jiu said considerately.

Mr. Ji’s chest heaved heavily, but he was holding his breath so tightly he didn’t dare let go, which meant he couldn’t speak. Tsk, truly a case of suffering for the sake of pride. Tian Jiu highly disapproved.

After a long while, the two of them finally made it downstairs. Mr. Ji’s breathing was erratic and his pheromones leaked out uncontrollably, which was quite rude and made Bai Ruona frown in discomfort. Although Ji Kaile didn’t carry anything, he had been terrified his father would fail, so neither of them looked happy.

Having enjoyed the show, Tian Jiu stopped provoking them. Going too far would be counterproductive. Just before he walked out the door, Mr. Ji called out to him with a black expression. “From today onward, you have nothing to do with the Ji family. I hope you don’t regret today’s decision.”

On the surface, he seemed to be lashing out in anger, but in reality, he was telling Tian Jiu to leave and never come back. Tian Jiu looked back at him and curled his lips. “The road ahead is long. I hope you don’t regret it either.”

*******

One hour later, Meteor Apartments.

“Xiao Yin, you are now an Omega who needs to live independently,” Bai Ruona reminded him before saying goodbye. “Though it might be hard to accept, residents without family protection cannot live in the Upper District indefinitely. Omegas are no exception.”

Tian Jiu nodded obediently. “I know, Auntie Bai.”

As mentioned before, the Central City was divided into the Upper and Lower Districts. The Upper District was stable, prosperous, and home to old families, the nouveau riche, and professional Fengshen players under team protection. The Lower District was chaotic and crowded with those rejected by the Upper District. The two areas were separated by a narrow moat, feeling like two different worlds. Space in the Upper District was limited; every day people fought to get in, and every day people were pushed out. Someone like Tian Jiu, who contributed nothing to society, would eventually be forced out.

Of course, there were three ways for an Omega to stay. First, create wealth or contribute to fields like tech, literature, or medicine. Second, marry an Alpha with family protection. Third, become a professional Fengshen player. Naturally, for most Omegas, the second path was the most practical.

“We will apply for a six-month temporary residency for you. During this time, we will try to find a compatible Alpha or a family willing to offer you protection.”

The latter was so unlikely it could be ignored. Truly established families would look down on Tian Jiu, and the nouveau riche wouldn’t risk offending the Ji family for a disabled Omega they didn’t know. It wasn’t that the Ji family was incredibly powerful, but in their circles, paths inevitably crossed. Between a worthless disabled Omega and the rising Ji family, anyone would know which side to favor.

Bai Ruona weighed her words and said softly, “Your situation is unique. Since you have no pheromones, we cannot use the system to find a compatible Alpha, but we will do our best to find a partner among unmarried Alphas. Don’t worry too much. Even if we don’t find one, you shouldn’t fear the Lower District. Our association has a presence there too, and we protect all Omegas.”

Tian Jiu already knew these rules by heart, but he listened anyway. He said a polite goodbye and began to explore his new home once he was alone. The apartment was located in a high-end complex in the busy city center. His home occupied the 37th and 38th floors, a two-story loft totaling at least 400 square meters. The decor was simple yet refined, and even though no one had been living there, a robot butler kept it spotless.

Erguotou had already networked with all the devices in the house, formatting the previous settings and reconfiguring them according to Tian Jiu’s wishes to prevent any privacy leaks. Tian Jiu felt like he had entered a palace, finding everything novel. He even spent a long time studying a vacuuming robot shaped like a husky. Then there were the intelligent kitchen appliances, temperature controls, and security systems. Everything felt surreal, yet it was all physically there.

He walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, finally getting a chance to observe this new world. It was night, and the lights were coming on. Countless skyscrapers lined the streets, and oddly shaped vehicles scurried along the intersecting roads. In the air, there were strange tracks, and starships occasionally zipped by like shooting stars, leaving trails of light. A few helicopters hummed between the buildings.

The congested roads below belonged to the middle and lower-class wealthy, while the starships and helicopters belonged to the elite families and top billionaires. The clear vertical distinction formed a complex transport network that served as a microcosm of this class-conscious society. The entire world was a blur of flickering red and blue neon—crowded, chaotic, yet orderly. A 200-meter-tall virtual panda stood in the wide street, clumsily striking cute poses; it was the mascot of the entire Yahua system.

All of this converged into a decadent and prosperous metropolis of power and desire. Tian Jiu suddenly felt that he was about to embark on a grand adventure.

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