Dragon Head Supreme Chapter 184
Chapter 184: Spreading the Word
The twelfth day of the last lunar month, 8:30 in the morning. Near the Old Square in Peaceful City, inside a small, unremarkable breakfast joint.
Three young men sat at a worn wooden table, wolfing down a humble meal. A bowl of soy milk, two steamed buns each—barely a buck fifty in total, yet they savored every bite like it was a feast.
One of them, Ling Hang, stood out just a little. He was dressed better than the others, a small Personal Handy-phone clipped to his belt. If Chen Xue Wen had been here, he would have recognized him instantly—Ling Hang, the reigning champion of the last King of Fighters ’98 tournament.
The prize money had been generous. Enough to buy himself a couple of fresh outfits and even a Handy-phone. Life had become noticeably more comfortable for him since then.
The other two? Not so lucky. Their clothes were tattered, their hair a mess, and their eyes carried the weary look of men trying to scrape by.
Between mouthfuls, they chatted.
Ling Hang glanced at his companions. “Little Pi, Yang Yang, you two haven’t been showing up at the arcade lately. What’s up with that?”
Little Pi sighed, setting down his bun. “Brother Ling, who’s got time for games right now?” He shook his head. “New Year’s coming up. My family hasn’t even got our festival groceries sorted yet. Been running deliveries these past few days, trying to make a little cash. Can’t be stuck eating radishes and cabbage for New Year’s.”
Yang Yang nodded. “Yeah, man. This year’s been rough. If I don’t hustle, I won’t even have the cash to get through the holiday.”
He glanced at Ling Hang with a bitter smile. “You’re different, Brother Ling. You won the tournament, got yourself a fat stack of cash. You’re living easy. If you hadn’t treated us this morning, the two of us would’ve been struggling to split even two buns.”
Ling Hang chuckled. “That was just luck, man.” He took a sip of soy milk, then shook his head. “But you know, Brother Wen is really something else. That tournament payout? Way more than what a regular guy makes in a year.”
Little Pi and Yang Yang’s faces filled with longing. “Yeah, no kidding.”
Ling Hang sighed. “If only there was another tournament… Little Pi, your King of Fighters ’97 skills are top-tier in Peaceful City. You didn’t join last time since it was out of town, otherwise, that championship would’ve been yours.”
Little Pi sighed as well. “Forget it, man. No point thinking about it. Brother Wen’s running Electronic Dynasty now. He’s all about those slot machines. He ain’t gonna waste money on a competition that doesn’t bring in real cash.”
Yang Yang nodded. “Exactly. We arcade players know the truth—our measly coins can’t keep a business running. Slots are where the money is.”
Ling Hang exhaled deeply, sharing their frustration. Even though he still hung out at Brothers Arcade, it just didn’t feel the same anymore.
Back when Chen Xue Wen ran the place, he could always chat with him, shoot the breeze. But now? Brother Wen had leveled up. He was a big-time businessman, and Ling Hang felt awkward even walking up to him.
As the three of them talked, Ling Hang’s Handy-phone suddenly rang.
He picked up. “Hello? Who’s this?”
After hearing just a few words, his face shifted dramatically. He bolted upright, nearly knocking over his soy milk. “M-Monkey Bro!?” he stammered. “It’s really you? Damn, good to hear from you, man!”
His hands trembled slightly as he answered, his excitement palpable. He was talking to someone important.
Little Pi and Yang Yang exchanged puzzled looks, waiting for him to hang up. The moment he did, they leaned in eagerly. “Brother Ling, who was that?”
Ling Hang took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “That… was Lai Hou. You know, Manager Lai from Electronic Dynasty.”
Their eyes widened. Of course, they knew him! Lai Hou was a big name in this part of town, someone you didn’t mess with.
“Lai Hou called you?!” Little Pi’s voice was filled with disbelief. “Is… is this something good?”
Ling Hang grinned. “Monkey Bro said he’s got something to discuss with me. He’s on his way here right now. Let’s wait and see.”
Little Pi and Yang Yang looked at each other, their shock evident. A guy like Lai Hou personally reaching out to Ling Hang? That could only mean one thing—something big was coming.
Moments later, a motorcycle rumbled to a stop outside the breakfast shop.
Lai Hou hopped off, with Li Er Yong right behind him. Stepping inside, he immediately spotted the trio and broke into a grin. “Hangzi! Been a while, man!”
He pulled a crisp hundred-yuan bill from his pocket, tossing it to the breakfast vendor. “Everything on their table’s on me. Also, bring out five bowls of rice noodles—one with extra seaweed. And ten baskets of meat buns!”
“Yo, that beef stew looks damn good. Fresh outta the pot, huh? Take the rest of my cash and load up a plate. Bring it to the table.”
Ling Hang and his boys had only eaten enough to take the edge off their hunger. They’d gone cheap, too—just soy milk and steamed buns. But now? Now that Lai Hou was picking up the tab, they weren’t holding back. Rice noodles, meat buns, and a hefty serving of beef stew? Their eyes practically lit up.
Little Pi had been gnawing on a bun, but the moment he heard, he set it down like it was a crime to keep eating it. He sat up straight, hands on the table, waiting like a soldier at roll call.
Lai Hou and Li Er Yong strolled in, laughing, carrying that easy confidence of men who always had a plan. Ling Hang was already on his feet, moving quick. From a few steps away, he reached out his hand, bowing slightly with a wide grin.
“Brother Hou, Brother Yong, good to see you, real good to see you.”
“Aw, come on now,” Lai Hou chuckled, shaking his hand. “Ain’t no need for all that.”
Li Er Yong grinned. “We already ate. How can we let you boys waste your cash on us?”
“We’re all family here, what’s a little meal between brothers?” Lai Hou waved it off. “Besides, young men like you? Give it a minute, you’ll be hungry again.”
“Been a while, sit with us,” Li Er Yong added, nudging Ling Hang toward the table.
“Yeah, yeah, take a seat.” Lai Hou motioned, and they all settled in. The owner moved fast, bringing over a heaping plate of beef stew. Back in 2003, a meal of rice noodles and buns was barely twenty bucks. The rest of the money? Enough beef stew to weigh down the damn table.
Ling Hang and his boys hesitated, not wanting to dive in first. Li Er Yong didn’t wait—he grabbed the plate and piled some into each of their bowls.
“Eat first, talk later,” he said with a smirk.
That was all the permission they needed. The three of them dug in, eating like they hadn’t seen real food in weeks. Oil, meat, spice—this was a feast compared to their usual bland rations. In no time, the plate was wiped clean.
Lai Hou wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Alright, Hang, I called you over ‘cause I got something to ask.”
Ling Hang straightened up. “Brother Hou, Brother Yong, just say the word. Whatever it is, I got you.”
Li Er Yong let out a hearty laugh. “Relax, this is right up your alley.”
He broke it down—the big annual tournament was happening, the real deal, the championship. Chen Xue Wen himself was behind it.
Ling Hang and his boys froze. Just minutes ago, they’d been sighing about how impossible that dream felt. And now? Just like that, it was happening?
Little Pi was so excited his hands were trembling. Even Yang Yang, usually the quiet one, had a spark in his eye.
Lai Hou clapped a hand on Ling Hang’s shoulder. “Listen, we’re swamped at the shop. Normally, I’d handle the promo myself, but I just don’t have the time. So, here’s the deal—I need you three to spread the word. Get people talking, get them hyped.”
“Do that for me, and I’ll make sure you get paid—fifty bucks a day. What do you say?”
Fifty bucks a day? That was more than what most workers made, and all they had to do was talk about a tournament?
Ling Hang barely held back a shout. “Brother Hou, Brother Yong, no problem! Consider it done!”
Little Pi and Yang Yang nodded furiously.
“Good.” Lai Hou gave them an approving nod. “Oh, and one more thing—this year’s grand prize? Five times bigger than before.”
Silence. Then, a sharp intake of breath from all three.
The previous grand prize? Five thousand bucks.
Five times that?
Twenty-five grand.
Little Pi was the first to shoot to his feet. “Brother Hou… you serious!?”
His voice cracked halfway through, but no one blamed him.
“And, uh… can I sign up? I play King of Fighters ‘97!”
Lai Hou laughed. “Of course! You and Ling Hang both—those games are in the lineup.”
Ling Hang and Little Pi could barely contain themselves, practically buzzing with excitement. But Yang Yang? He let out a long sigh.
Lai Hou noticed. “What’s wrong, brother?”
Yang Yang forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Brother Hou.”
Ling Hang snickered. “Told you, man! You shoulda been playing competitive games. But no, you stuck with shooters. And look where that got you—nowhere.”
Yang Yang’s face darkened, his hands clenching under the table.
But Lai Hou just chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t be so sure. There’s a spot for shooters, too.”
Yang Yang’s head snapped up. “Wait… really?”
Lai Hou grinned. “Brother Wen put in big money this time. Every genre’s got a spot.”
For the first time, real hope flickered in Yang Yang’s eyes.
“Then… then I can join!?”
“Damn right, you can!” Lai Hou laughed, watching as Yang Yang’s fists clenched with newfound determination. The kid was in.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation