Honestly that DOTA friend of his might be the second or third smartest character in the whole manga (that's how low the barrier IQ/EQ points of this). At first, he sure underestimates MC but quickly turned around when MC proves he's indeed strong (I mean your average friend you know in high school in 2 years suddenly become master cultivation & martial arts? Kinda hard to believe).
The smartest character is still the grandpa Chu of course, and the second smartest/having most awareness might be the nameless assassin/kidnapper leader from the celebrity singer kidnapping case.
Now will he pardoned this guy?