After a short walk through the back corridor, Hao arrived at the storage area and stopped in front of the newly delivered carton boxes.
He nudged one with his foot, then carried the smallest one off to the side and popped it open with a flick of his finger.
"There it is."
He reached in and picked up one of the items on top. It was a freshly printed, glossy poster.
The paper had a deep blue background, with a bold golden title stretched across the top like it was shouting at anyone who looked:
[8-BALL POOL TOURNANT – ONE WINNER STANDS TALL]
Right beside the title were pictures of colorful pool balls scattered across a green table. So were mid-roll, so clacking together, and one perfectly lined up with the black 8-ball.
It looked exciting already, even if you didn’t know how to play.
Right beneath the title was a full list of information in clean, neatly printed text:
Tournant Rules & Info:
※ Free to register and join!
※ But to be eligible, you must have played at least 1 ga of billiards before signing up.
※ Format: Single Elimination Bracket
※ Preliminary & Quarterfinals: Best of 1 ga
※ Semifinals & Finals: Best of 2 gas
※ 5-Minute Rule: If a participant does not show up within 5 minutes once their match is called, the ga will be forfeited and their opponent will automatically win.
※Sign-up sheet will be available at the counter. Registration closes one hour before the first match begins.
Prizes:
※ Champion: Choose 10 products from the store.
※ Runner-Up: Choose 5 products of your choice.
※ Semi-Finalists: Each may choose 2 products from the store.
※ All Other Participants: No prizes. Consider it training for the next tournant.
Hao read it all from the bottom to the top.
Started with the "no prize" line and scoffed. "Typical."
’Tough love from the universe.’
Then he saw the champion prize.
"Ten products? Any item?" He whistled softly.
’Haaiyaahhh... if only I could join!’
’I’d show them the legendary Triple Bank Shot of Destiny...’
He paused.
’...which I may or may not have totally made up just now.’
Still grumbling, Hao glanced longingly at the illustration of pool table.
’Single elimination? Pfft.’
’I’d have swept that bracket faster than Kuro clears a Tuna Mayo Onigiri."
He planted the rolled-up poster under his arm with a sigh of great injustice.
Sotis, being the store owner had its downsides.
No prize. No glory. No dramatic last-shot coback in the finals.
Still, at least he got to watch his custors go head-to-head, right?
He just didn’t know who was actually going to win.
This wasn’t fighting, after all.
Strength didn’t an much here. You couldn’t just overpower the ball with raw cultivation.
Pool needed calm hands, good timing, and a steady eye.
Which made him think...
Wouldn’t the elders and sect masters actually have the advantage?
They had more control over their bodies.
Years of precision training. They were used to holding back power instead of just throwing it around.
It wouldn’t surprise him if soone like Elder Bai showed up, chalked the cue calmly, and quietly wiped the floor with everyone.
’Yeah...’ Hao muttered, dragging a hand down his face.
’I can already see it happening.’
Still, maybe there’d be a dark horse.
So quiet disciple who practiced alone every night.
Or one of the younger ones with weirdly good hand-eye coordination.
Hard to say.
But no matter who won, he’d be there watching.
He just hoped no one tried to flip the table when they lost.
Hao glanced back down at the open box.
The poster in his hand was the top layer, but maybe there was sothing else underneath?
He reached in again and carefully lifted a few copies.
Beneath them was a small stack of thinner papers, clipped together and cleanly cut.
The sign-up sheet.
Unlike the flashy poster, this one was simple.
Each sheet had about ten short rows, just enough for a single na per line.
No sect, no rank, no nonsense.
Just a bold title at the top:
[8-BALL POOL TOURNANT REGISTRATION]
And next to each na line, off to the side, was a faint circle.
Not ink. More like a smooth, silvery patch.
Hao raised an eyebrow.
’System, what’s this for?’ he asked, poking it lightly with his finger.
[That area stores the participant’s data signature, host. It is used to confirm eligibility and ensure no duplicate entries occur.]
Hao nodded slowly.
’Ah... high-tech fancy paper. Got it.’
With that, he gathered the sheets, tucked them back into the box, and carried it over to the front counter.
He restocked a few shelves on the way then flipped the little wooden sign on the glass door to "Open."
The convenience store was officially back in business!
He glanced toward the billiard room.
Yan Shu’er hadn’t moved an inch, arms folded, eyes locked on the table with the intensity of soone planning revenge.
Hao raised an eyebrow.
Was she... traumatized?
No way, right?
Did he break her self-esteem with that flawless combo shot?
’Damn. Did I humble her too hard?’
He squinted, trying to read her vibe.
She looked like soone who just got absolutely wrecked in ranked, uninstalled the ga, then reinstalled it five minutes later in silent rage.
Hao let out a quiet snort.
’Note to self: maybe dial it down next ti. Just a little.’
He turned his attention back to the posters.
One went up right behind the counter.
Another outside, near the tables and chairs by the storefront window.
And the last one? Hung neatly on the wall inside the billiard room.
He didn’t even need tape.
The posters had a faint stickiness on the back that activated once placed, latching onto the wall perfectly flat.
No peeling edges. No air bubbles. Beautiful.
As Hao went about all these chores, he was also chatting with the system to gather more details.
Turned out, playing billiards would cost a total of 2 crystals per ga, aning each player only needed to pay 1 crystal.
Once paid, they’d receive a small token, sa style as the ice cream system. Insert the token, get a cue, and you’d be automatically entered into the ga queue.
Cheap. Clean and simple.
Well, cheap by the store’s standards.
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