Yuan Tailai's words took Li Pin by surprise.
However, Li Pin pondered for a moment and realized that this wasn't that strange considering how things worked in this world. Many renowned martial artists were paid to endorse products and film advertisements.
Having a level-two certification wasn't considered particularly amazing, but Li Pin's selling point was that he was young.
Not to mention, Li Pin's parents had blessed him with outstanding genes. Amongst all the level-two martial artists in Zanglong City, few people could compare with him when it came to looks.
"100 thousand? That's too little," Li Pin said with a smile. "Are you expecting me to get knocked out right from the very first round of the competition?"
Those had truly been Yuan Tailai's thoughts. After all, Li Pin was just so young. He was only a level-two martial artist too. When the competition rolled around, wouldn't he just be considered cannon fodder?
However, there was no way Yuan Tailai could be this blunt.
"Of course not," said Yuan Tailai. "It's just that our allocated budget for publicity is limited."
"Look," said Li Pin, "the fact that we met means it's destiny."
Li Pin found the idea of martial artists' endorsements rather novel.
Back on the Blue Planet, martial artists had been obscure. Even if a martial artist had attained Transformative Force, they would still make less money than a second-rate celebrity.
Yet now, here, someone had come knocking on his door right after he had gotten a level-two martial artist certification....
"I have a suggestion. Why don't you give it some thought?" Li Pin said with a chuckle.
"I won't shoot a commercial, but I'll give Red Sun Fashion the right to use my face for advertisements during the competition. You only need to pay me 50 thousand. However, if I can get into the second round, you'll have to raise it to 100 thousand. If I can get into the top ten, I guess asking for 1 million wouldn't be considered going overboard, right?"
"Top ten?" Yuan Tailai was slightly stunned. "If I'm not mistaken, based on your identification number that was displayed earlier... you are twenty-two this year? You can only join the intermediate category, right?"
You, a level-two martial artist... get into the top ten? Do you really think those Transformative Force experts and Core Force masters are just for show?
"That's right, is there a problem?"
Yuan Tailai was rendered speechless.
Li Pin smiled and turned to leave.
He had only bothered to stop and chat with Yuan Tailai for a while because he found the idea of endorsements novel, not to mention that he considered it a bit of fate that Yuan Tailai had approached him for a chat.
However, entering a cooperation agreement with a company when there was a lack of trust wasn't a good idea. It'd also be a waste of time.
Yuan Tailai had been a little shocked at Li Pin's confident words, but he quickly snapped out of it.
He had planned on spending only 100 thousand to hire Li Pin to endorse their products. Li Pin wasn't willing to shoot a commercial and only allowed them to use his face during the Jiang Province Martial Competition... but someone who could advance to the second round was completely different from someone who'd be eliminated right off the bat.
One could at most be said to have been a mere participant of the competition. As for the other....
Well, labeling them as an impressive participant who had advanced to the second round of the Jiang Province Martial Competition wouldn't be too far-fetched then, would it?
Moreover, even if Li Pin were to be knocked out in the first round, didn't that mean that they'd only have to pay him 50 thousand?
Yuan Tailai could afford to lose 50 thousand.
"Hold on! We'll go with your proposal. We'll sign a contract with you," Yuan Tailai said as he quickly chased after Li Pin. "We'll still pay you 100 thousand. If you can get into the second round, we'll pay you 200 thousand. If you can get into the top ten, we’ll pay you 3 million. However, I hope that we can sign a one-year contract."
Li Pin found this proposal a little strange. "Aren't you guys just after the hype of the competition?"
"Hehe. We can still maintain a long-term collaboration even after the competition ends," said Yuan Tailai with a smile. "If there are no other issues, let's find a place to get the contract signed."
"I have another proposal," said Li Pin. "We'll go with the rates I proposed earlier, but I won't sign a one-year contract."
"Hmmm?" Yuan Tailai was stunned. "Why?"
Li Pin smiled. "What if I plan to continue to the national competition?"
Yuan Tailai was instantly stumped for words. "Uhhh..."
Transformative Force experts who had rich combat experience might have a chance of becoming one of the top ten in the Jiang Province Martial Competition. However, the national competition was a different story. If a martial artist hadn't attained Core Force, they probably wouldn't even be invited to participate in the national competition.
Yuan Tailai explained, "Participation in the National Martial Competition's youth and intermediate categories is strictly based on invites.
"The participants are selected from the top five, or even possibly top three, in their respective provincial competitions. Only the adult category is open for registration. However, the prerequisite for the registration is for a martial artist to have the Deputy title, which means that you'd have to already have attained Core Force—"
Yuan Tailai cut himself short. He realized that this young man before him probably already knew about all this. After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Tailai came to a decision.
"We'll sign the contract. We'll go based on the rates of 100 and 200 thousand respectively. Not only that. If you can get into the top ten, I'll pay you 2 million... I only request that you come for the ribbon-cutting ceremony when our flagship store in Jiang Province opens for business."
Li Pin thought about it and then nodded. "Alright."
He did find this experience novel and wanted to try it out. In the future, unless there were any special circumstances, it would be unlikely for him to accept any more endorsements.
After giving Shan Hu a call, Li Pin went to a cafe with Yuan Tailai. They discussed the terms of the contract with a legal representative that Yuan Tailai had called over.
Shortly later, Shan Hu came over in a hurry with a middle-aged man.
"This is the Changfeng Martial Hall's legal representative," Shan Hu said. She gazed at Li Pin, unable to stop herself from sizing him up. "Not bad. I can’t believe you managed to clinch an endorsement just like that. I guess you passed the exam?"
"Mmm, I'm only planning on giving them the right to use my face," Li Pin replied. He turned to the middle-aged man Shan Hu had brought. "Thank you for coming."
"He actually passed?" Shan Hu mumbled. "And just like that, I’ve met a legendary martial arts genius...?"
The middle-aged man spoke with the legal representative Yuan Tailai brought. After making a few alterations to the terms of the contract, he nodded at Shan Hu and Li Pin.
Li Pin walked back to the table.
Shan Hu took a glance at the contract and instantly cried out, "Oh, my god! Top ten in the Jiang Province Martial Competition?! You're actually that ambitious?"
"It's six months away. It doesn't hurt to give it a try," Li Pin replied with a smile.
"Give it a try..." Shan Hu muttered as she looked at Li Pin with a slightly complicated gaze.
The more she interacted with Li Pin, the more she felt that she couldn't make sense of him.
Back when she first met Li Pin, she had been determined to beat him just because Fang Yubai had pulled a few strings to get him to study under her master. She only took Li Pin seriously after losing to him.
Over the month that followed, she had seen Li Pin grow noticeably. While Li Pin had mentioned that he was just picking up the martial arts he had neglected in the past, Shan Hu still found it hard to swallow that Li Pin was progressing this fast.
Li Pin had just received his level-two martial artist certificate, yet he actually had the audacity to sign a contract that had a clause that took into account the possibility of him making it into the competition's top ten?! Even Shan Hu’s master didn't have absolute confidence that he could get into the top ten!
Li Pin was saying that he was only going to give it a try, but this was still projecting his unrivaled courage and confidence!
At the very least... if Shan Hu were in his shoes and had just obtained her level-two martial artist certification, she definitely wouldn't have the courage to sign up for the Jiang Province Martial Competition, let alone aim to get into the top ten.
"What level were you at when you stopped practicing?" Shan Hu couldn't help but ask. "You can't have possibly already attained Covert Force, can you?"
He didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to tell her the truth either. After all, sometimes, hearing the truth hurt more. Shan Hu was a nice lady. It'd be better to leave her to think things through by herself.
Li Pin checked through the contract one more time before he signed his name.
"It's a pleasure to be working with you." Yuan Tailai stood up and shook hands with Li Pin. "The 50 thousand will be transferred to your account by tomorrow at the latest."
Li Pin nodded. "Thanks."
The Changfeng Martial Hall's legal representative had fought for him to have the 50 thousand paid upfront right after signing the contract. It was always safer to have the money already in your pocket, after all.
Moreover, with that money, he'd be able to buy himself some nourishing medical supplements for his qi and blood. This way, it would take him even less time to recover back to the peak Transformative Force Phase.