"What... what just happened? Lin Feng just took out Sun Lei instantaneously?"

"This is absolutely incredible! The most unbelievable match I've ever seen!"

"Damn... Has the sun really risen from the west? Just a student, yet so powerful?"

"You really can't judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought this kid was so powerful, defeating Sun Lei with just one punch? It's hard not to be impressed by him..."

When everyone came to their senses, they showered Lin Feng with praise. The scene just now had been too shocking; they were still finding it hard to digest.

"This round, Lin... Lin Feng wins! Congratulations!" Even the referee instructor's voice sounded slightly unnatural. The way he looked at Lin Feng conveyed sincere appreciation. This is precisely the kind of candidate we need for the Falcon Project!

Slowly stepping down from the fighting stage, Lin Feng realized he had attracted many stares. After all, among everyone present, he was probably the youngest.

I need to keep a low profile... Seeing the incredulous stares from the crowd, Lin Feng cursed himself inwardly. Did I overdo it just now? Did I end the fight too quickly, causing all their attention to focus on me? I've already advanced. For the next match, I should probably abstain. Otherwise, I'll attract too much attention and become a thorn in their sides, which would be a hassle.

As he stepped down the stairs, Lin Feng made up his mind: he would forfeit the next match. He was already a member of the Falcon Project, and he didn't really care about becoming an elite member.

Descending from the stage, he came face to face with Ye Lin, who had been watching the fights from the side of the ring. Seeing him, Ye Lin still wore a playful expression.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Lin Feng said, approaching her with a somewhat arrogant smile. "I intended to go easy on him, but... Sun Lei was just too weak."

Ye Lin, arms crossed and a smirk on her face, huffed. "I have nothing to be disappointed about. Now that you're a member of the Falcon Project, I'll have plenty of opportunities to settle scores with you in the future!"

She spoke disdainfully, then her gaze shifted to a man at the side who was handling the bets. "Hey, the match is over. Isn't it time to settle up?"

The man seemed a bit annoyed. "I don't have enough cash on me. I'll go to the ATM in the base in a bit. It's only 10,000 dollars; I can afford to lose!"

At his words, Ye Lin looked at Lin Feng smugly. "Little brat, see that? That's 10,000 dollars you just won for me. Why would I be disappointed?"

After saying that, she turned and walked away. "We have plenty of time to settle our score. Just you wait and see!"

Seeing Ye Lin's graceful retreating figure, Lin Feng was taken aback. I won money for her?

"Damn it, Lin Feng, you really disappointed me! You actually won!" The man running the bets approached, looking dejected. "I set up the betting, offering odds on you to win. I never thought anyone would actually take that bet, let alone that you'd pull it off! But... that woman put 1,000 dollars on you. The payout was ten to one! You've really put me in a hole!"

The man sighed, shook his head, and walked off, presumably to withdraw the money.

What the hell? You're disappointed that I won? Who told you to underestimate me, huh? You reap what you sow!

Only then did Lin Feng realize people had actually been betting on his match with Sun Lei. How could they not tell me? I'm broke! It would have been great to win some money from this! Lin Feng was fuming internally.

"Hey, Miss Ye," Lin Feng called out, catching up to her. "Since I won you 10,000 dollars, can I get a cut? Even if I didn't do much, I still put in the effort, right? I deserve a share!"

Frankly, Lin Feng was really poor. He probably had less than a thousand dollars on him. His family hadn't believed he could pass the selection, and Luo Yang had said money wouldn't be needed at the training base. So, Lin Feng had only brought a few hundred dollars in cash when he left – no cards, nothing. He was utterly destitute.

The reality was that the training base had small convenience stores, vendors, and ATMs. It seemed like a lot of money would indeed be needed!

Furthermore, all trainees' mobile phones and communication devices had been confiscated to maintain strict confidentiality during the training period. Contacting anyone outside was forbidden, meaning asking his family for money was impossible.

He had to survive the next two months on the six or seven hundred dollars he possessed.

Even though the training base provided a free cafeteria, money made the world go round. Without it, he'd just be a nobody, easily trampled upon.

Ye Lin didn't expect Lin Feng to follow her. She shot him a dark look. "Get lost, or I'll make you!" Clearly, Ye Lin had developed a habit of wanting to strike Lin Feng whenever she saw him; she was restraining herself.

"Come on," Lin Feng wheedled. "Shouldn't we share good fortune and hardships alike? We know each other here; we can look out for one another, right?"

Lin Feng felt he was becoming quite shameless for the sake of a few thousand dollars. But what could he do? In this place, money was king. And right now, he desperately needed some.

"Look out for you? Dream on!" Ye Lin retorted. "You pervert! Take one more step, and I'll hit you!" Lin Feng's attempt to curry favor had clearly backfired. It's generous enough that I'm not dealing with you right now, and you still want my money? You won't get a single penny! she thought.

Seeing the cold look on Ye Lin's face and her readiness to lash out, Lin Feng could only turn and leave with a sigh. "Ah, this world is so unfair. I do all the work and get nothing... What a rip-off!"

The first round of the competition ended. The winners officially became members of the Falcon Project, while the losers had a chance to fight for the four remaining spots. If they lost again... well, if they lost again, they'd have no face to say anything, would they?

Next, the second round of the competition began.

Lin Feng looked up his opponent. Surprisingly, it was Su Xuebing, one of Huang Yixiang's group.

Damn it, I've heard Su Xuebing is also retired special forces. Though not as strong as Huang Yixiang, he's supposedly very capable. Should I fight him? Lin Feng wondered. After careful thought, he decided there was no need to reveal his true strength in such a low-stakes competition. It wasn't worth it.

So, he decided to abstain.

"Instructor, I'd like to forfeit," Lin Feng said, walking up to the instructor.

"Forfeit?" the instructor asked. "What happened? Were you injured in the previous match?"

I took out Sun Lei with one punch in the last match; how could I be injured? Lin Feng muttered to himself but plastered a smile on his face for the instructor. "No, I have a stomachache. I probably ate something bad last night and have diarrhea today."

"Heh, diarrhea?" Before the instructor could respond, Su Xuebing arrogantly walked over and taunted Lin Feng. "Lin Feng, you're not just scared to fight me and making excuses, are you?"

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