Tom's face darkened. He was about to explain.
Fade stood up, interrupting him. He looked at them and spat, "Don't you worry about me needing your resources. I am already qualified to participate in the Martial Arts Convention. I am not planning to steal anything from you!"
The three of them who stood across him were stunned by what he said. Their eyes widened as they gasped silently, but later, their facial expressions went from surprise to doubtful.
Fade noticed their skeptical expressions, but he did not feel the need to explain anything to them. He patted Tom's shoulder and smiled, "I've got stuff to do, and I have to go back to school now. Let's talk after the Martial Arts Convention!"
"Fade, I..." Tom hurriedly got up to persuade him to stay, but when he caught sight of the look on his three friends' face, he stopped himself, "I'll walk you out, Brother Fade."
"Alright!" He nodded, and the two of them left the room.
As they reached the hotel entrance, Tom furrowed his brows at Fade apologetically. "I'm terribly sorry. I just wanted to introduce my friends to you.
I didn't expect that they..." "It's alright. Those in the martial arts circle always put their interests first. Besides, there's nothing wrong with them being vigilant," Fade laughed it off as he waved his hand dismissively. "You should prepare yourself and give it all you got in the Martial Arts Convention tomorrow."
"Alright, I will." Tom bobbed his head as he watched Fade enter the car and left the hotel.
Halge and Lillian were busy scarfing down food when Tom returned to the room. When he got back, he was infuriated by their attitude, and he glared at the two of them. "Halge, Lillian, what was that all about? I invited Brother Fade here, but why did you two do that?"
Lillian slowly put down her bowl and chopsticks and sneered. She glanced towards Tom and said, "Tom, don't pretend anymore. You have been bragging non- stop about your Brother Fade throughout our journey. It was just a trick to convince us to take him with us to participate in the Martial Arts Convention. However, you have to know that we worked hard to earn our resources and the qualifications. Did you ask us before you decided to share them with an outsider?"
"That was not my intention. Besides, Brother Fade is a strong martial artist. He doesn't need my help if he wants to participate in the Martial Arts
Convention. You worry too much," Tom defended.
However, the two of them remained unconvinced. "Fade? Strong? You must be joking. I probed how capable he was when he came in, and I couldn't detect any trace of positive energy. I could tell that he was a nobody with just one look at his face. You've got to be kidding!"
"That's right, Tom. You fawned over us to partner with you. Don't forget where you stand," Lillian said coldly.
"You two..." Tom clenched his fists so tight that his knuckles cracked. He was trying hard not to start a fight.
At this moment, Hertzel slammed the table and warned, "The Martial Arts Convention is tomorrow. Now is not the right time to fight among ourselves. Let's talk about it after the competition."
Tom looked at them, and his face turned dark. He swung his arm and turned away to leave the private room. "I've lost my appetite. I'll go back to my room to rest."
The three of them stared at Tom as he left. Halge tilted his chin towards Hertzel as he complained, "Hertzel, it looks like you chose the wrong person to be on our team!"
Lillian quickly chimed in, "I thought that he was an honest and hardworking person who was willing to put in the grind, but little did I know that he had other intentions."
Hertzel frowned and hesitated, "The Martial Arts Convention is about to begin. Let's talk about it later."
"Then we'll have to endure this brat for a few more days," Halge and Lillian snorted.
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