If Lam Minh's victory in the first round was considered a "lucky break," his victory in the second round turned him into a phenomenon, the biggest mystery of the tournament.
The video clip of "The Rhino" Bui Trong Dat running headfirst into a steel post went viral online. "Online experts" dissected every frame, trying to explain this supernatural event.
One theory emerged and gained the most support: Lam Minh possessed some kind of psychic ability, perhaps "bad luck" or a "curse," that caused his opponents to have bizarre accidents.
"Minh-ology" was born from this. People began to study his biography, his habits, even his favorite foods, trying to uncover the secret behind the "supernatural power" of this "lucky" guy. The bookmakers also had a headache readjusting the betting odds. The odds for Tran Hung Dao to win the championship were still very high, but a new side bet had been added: "How will Lam Minh's next opponent lose to themselves?" The options included: falling out of the ring on their own, punching themselves in the face, being struck by lightning...
Lam Minh, the main character of this craze, couldn't care less. He was busy with his "punching bag."
In the Blacklight training room, Quynh Nhu was panting, drenched in sweat. She had just spent an hour "torturing" Lam Minh, but the result was that she was the one aching all over.
"You bastard!" she snapped, rubbing her dislocated shoulder. "Can you stop with the 'accidental' counter-damage? I'm starting to suspect you're doing it on purpose!"
Lam Minh sat in a corner, his face still "bruised," but inwardly he was counting points. "You're wronging me. I was just defending myself. It's not my fault you hit so hard."
[Violently "tripped" and "punched a wall" by a loli. Received 50 Immortality Points.]
"Today's harvest is better than last time," he thought. "Maybe I should be even more 'accidental'."
"Fine, I'll let you off today," Quynh Nhu waved her hand, her expression full of frustration. "The semi-finals are coming up. Your opponent is no simpleton."
She tossed him a tablet. "High School for Gifted Students in Physical Education and Sports. Their team is full of professional athletes. Especially their captain, Mai Tuyet Trinh."
Lam Minh looked at the screen. Mai Tuyet Trinh, a tall, fit girl with a dynamic ponytail. She was a Muay Thai master, famous for her vicious knee and elbow strikes, nicknamed the "Queen." All of her previous matches had ended in swift knockouts.
"She's very strong," Quynh Nhu said in a serious tone. "Her combat skills and mentality are both solid. Your 'lucky' tricks might not work on her."
"We'll see," Lam Minh just smiled lightly.
The semi-final match between Tran Hung Dao and the High School for Gifted Students was more anticipated than ever. Everyone wanted to see if Lam Minh's "luck" could stand up to the true power of the "Queen" Mai Tuyet Trinh.
At Lam Minh's house, not only were his parents and sister there, but also aunts and uncles had gathered to watch. The small living room became crowded and noisy.
"Our Minh really has the makings of a great man! He can win a competition without even fighting!" one aunt praised effusively.
"It must be the blessings of our ancestors," an uncle nodded sagely.
Mr. Lam Dao and Mrs. Mai could only manage wry smiles.
The match began.
As expected, the first two members of the Tran Hung Dao team, Hoang Long and Le Van Hung, were quickly defeated by the members of the Gifted Students team. They were professional athletes; the skill gap was too large.
Once again, the burden fell on Lam Minh. He had to face all three members of the opposing team by himself.
"This situation seems familiar, doesn't it?" the TV commentator said, his voice full of excitement. "Can 'Lucky God' Lam Minh create another miracle?"
Lam Minh stepped onto the stage, still with his familiar "trembling" look. His first opponent was a boxer.
The performance began again. But this time, Lam Minh no longer ran or screamed. He put on a "resilient" front. He let his opponent pummel him. Every time he was hit, he would stagger as if about to fall, but then would stubbornly remain standing.
"My goodness! This boy's willpower is incredible!" the audience exclaimed in admiration.
After taking a good beating and farming some points, Lam Minh began to "counter-attack." He took advantage of his opponent's fatigue, throwing "weak" and "clumsy" punches.
But those punches, "strangely," always targeted his opponent's stamina-draining spots, like the stomach and chest. After a few minutes of being "tortured" by these tickle-like but extremely annoying punches, the boxer collapsed on his own from... exhaustion.
[Victory achieved through the 'Perseverance Grinds Down Iron' tactic. Caused the opponent to collapse from exhaustion and frustration. Reward: 600 Immortality Points.]
The second opponent was a Taekwondo fighter. Lam Minh changed tactics again. He constantly "tripped" and "slipped," creating comical situations that prevented his opponent from fully executing their techniques. Finally, in a classic "slip," he caused his opponent to kick the corner post and injure himself, unable to continue.
[Reused an old trick, but it's still effective. The opponent was too naive. Reward: 500 Immortality Points.]
At last, the most anticipated showdown arrived. Lam Minh vs. "The Queen" Mai Tuyet Trinh.
Mai Tuyet Trinh stepped onto the stage, her gaze as sharp as a knife, completely unaffected by Lam Minh's previous "antics."
"I don't know what tricks you're using," she said, her voice cold. "But in the face of absolute power, all petty tricks are useless."
The match began.
Mai Tuyet Trinh didn't attack immediately. She moved around, observing, searching for an opening. She was a patient hunter.
Lam Minh also stood still, sweat "pouring down like rain." He knew this opponent was no joke.
Suddenly, Mai Tuyet Trinh lunged. Her speed was like lightning. She launched her signature knee strike, aimed straight at Lam Minh's stomach.
The blow was too fast, too sudden. Lam Minh "didn't have time" to react.
BAM!
A dry, heavy thud echoed. Lam Minh's entire body flew into the air and then fell to the floor with a thump. He clutched his stomach, curled up, and coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood (controlled with qi).
The entire stadium was dead silent.
"Is... is it over?"
"A single blow!"
Mai Tuyet Trinh stood there, letting out a breath, her expression cold. "I told you."
The referee began to count. Everyone thought the match was over. Lam Minh's "luck" had finally run out.
But...
When the referee counted to "10," Lam Minh, who was thought to be unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes. He slowly, deliberately stood up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and then looked at Mai Tuyet Trinh and smiled.
A smile completely different from before. No more "fear," no more "bewilderment." It was the smile of a predator who had just found a worthy opponent.
"That blow... was pretty good," he said, his voice calm. "Now then... shall we say it's my turn?"
The whole world seemed to stop at that moment. The "sheep" had finally shed its skin.