Chapter Summaries

Yoshikawa Hiroshi drove Geng Shuai toward a humiliating bagel, using repeated high balls to expose Geng Shuai’s lingering fear from a past match against Christian Hart. After Yoshikawa lobbed the ball in open mockery, Geng Shuai froze and called a timeout, his racket hand trembling.

• Geng Shuai played poorly against Yoshikawa Hiroshi but scored points in the first two games, ending them 11–1 and 11–3.
• As the third game reached 5–0, Geng Shuai tried to attack a high chance ball but faltered, and Yoshikawa Hiroshi won the point.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi returned another deliberately high ball, which Geng Shuai could not attack, while Wang Chao realized the opponent was exploiting a weakness.
• Yang Chi taunted Wang Chao with a grin as Geng Shuai fell behind 8–0.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi lobbed the ball high in an apparent humiliation, and Geng Shuai froze as he remembered Christian Hart’s high balls from a match in Denmark.
• Geng Shuai let the ball fall, raised his hand for a timeout, and stood with his racket hand trembling.

After Geng Shuai forfeited because of the psychological attack he suffered, Wang Chao faced Yang Chi in the deciding match, furious that Yang had betrayed his teammate. As Zhu Ding watched from the stands, Wang Chao took a 2–0 lead, and Geng Shuai told Lu Jia to watch him get revenge.

• Fan Xiaoxian forfeited Geng Shuai’s match, and officials approved the forfeit, leaving the clubs tied 2:2 while warning Yoshikawa Hiroshi for his attack on Geng.
• Wang Chao entered the final match against Yang Chi and blamed him for betraying Geng Shuai by revealing his private weakness.
• Zhu Ding’s appearance in the stands drew the crowd’s attention, and Yang Chi feared the Great Demon King might stand up for Geng Shuai.
• Wang Chao scored twice with difficult attacking flicks, taking a 2–0 lead over Yang Chi.
• Geng Shuai told Lu Jia to watch closely as Wang Chao got revenge for him.

Wang Chao overwhelmed Yang Chi in the first game, winning 11:0 and demonstrating that he was Spade Q’s greatest threat. The match continued after the shutout, with Geng Shuai unsure whether Wang Chao’s revenge had gone far enough.

• Wang Chao attacked Yang Chi relentlessly, taking an early 9:0 lead as Yang Chi struggled to receive his serves and return his shots.
• Yang Chi called a timeout, but his coach could offer little beyond urging him to steady himself; Wang Chao’s performance convinced rival teams that he could earn Spade Q two points.
• Zhu Ding told Zhu Zehai that there was no point in continuing to train and said he planned to return home, while anticipating that he would have to face Wang Chao himself.
• Wang Chao won the first game 11:0, and Geng Shuai thanked him; when Wang Chao asked whether it was enough, Geng Shuai admitted he did not know.
• Lu Jia felt sorry for Yang Chi as the match continued, despite acknowledging that Yang Chi had brought the situation upon himself.

Wang Chao defeated Yang Chi with four consecutive 11:0 games, leaving Osmanthus Fragrance Club humiliated and Yang Chi emotionally shattered. The match made Wang Chao a national sensation and sparked debate about whether players should deliberately avoid whitewashing opponents.

• Wang Chao changed from reckless power shots to more tactical play but kept Yang Chi from scoring in the second game.
• Yang Chi hesitated to serve at 10:0, received a yellow card, and then lost the point when Wang Chao smashed his serve for another 11:0.
• Wang Chao gave Yang Chi a fourth whitewash twenty minutes later, after which Yang Chi refused to shake hands and stormed away.
• Reporters and online commentators debated Wang Chao's conduct, his grudge with Yang Chi, and the tradition of avoiding 11:0 victories.
• Brother Da Ma declined to comment on Wang Chao's behavior but warned teams to consider carefully whom they matched against him.

With Geng Shuai sidelined by a psychological injury, Wang Chao chose Tian Zhengguang as his temporary doubles partner and tried to persuade him to accept. Geng Shuai took the team out for a farewell meal, where Lu Jia spotted the foreign player Yoshikawa Hiroshi at a nearby stall.

• Fan Xiaoxian announced that Geng Shuai would miss at least a week of matches, leaving Lu Jia as the first singles player and creating a temporary doubles vacancy.
• Fan Xiaoxian asked Wang Chao to choose a substitute partner, and Wang Chao recommended Tian Zhengguang over Gao Ming to improve the team's chances of winning.
• Tian Zhengguang told Wang Chao he had declined the role, but Wang Chao challenged his reluctance and explained why he considered Tian the stronger choice.
• Geng Shuai interrupted their unresolved conversation and invited the team out for drinks before his departure the next day.
• The team ate at a Nanjing food street, and Lu Jia pointed out Yoshikawa Hiroshi dining with several unfamiliar young men nearby.

Wang Chao spoke with Yoshikawa Hiroshi, who described Sakura Country’s youth-focused training plan and his own Olympic ambitions. Wang Chao explained to himself why China Table Tennis’s selection system and deep pool of players left him no chance at next year’s Olympics.

• Yoshikawa Hiroshi recognized Wang Chao at the gathering, invited him to sit, and asked whether he had considered next year’s Olympic Games.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi explained that he hoped to earn an Olympic singles berth through Sakura Country’s trials and had come to China to develop his table tennis skills.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi revealed that a Su Province club had brought him to play for Osmanthus Fragrance and promised offseason training with two national players.
• Wang Chao told Yoshikawa Hiroshi that he had no chance of going to the Olympics, then considered how China’s selection process favored international performance, seniority, and the national team’s established order.
• Wang Chao concluded that he could not be selected for next year’s Olympics unless a major upheaval occurred within the national team.

Wang Chao rejected Yoshikawa Hiroshi’s offer to play for Sakura Country and realized Yoshikawa had helped Yang Chi arrange retaliation. After a drunken meal, Wang Chao and his companions were cornered in an alley by thugs who planned to shave his head.

• Yoshikawa Hiroshi told Wang Chao that his father, Yoshikawa Dai Moku, could arrange a lucrative move to Sakura Country, but Wang Chao refused.
• Wang Chao deduced that Yang Chi had accepted Yoshikawa Hiroshi’s invitation to play in Sakura Country the following year.
• After the group left the food street, eleven thugs blocked both ends of an alley and knocked the drunken Geng Shuai to the ground.
• Wang Chao identified himself when the thugs asked for him, and they announced that they had come to shave his head.
• Wang Chao suspected Yoshikawa Hiroshi had told Yang Chi where to find him and recognized the plan as using Yang Chi to carry out revenge.

Wang Chao’s teammates fought off Yang Chi’s thugs after Tian Zhengguang discovered they planned to break Wang Chao’s hand. Wang Chao called He Jingping for help, prompting He and Zhu Zeshi to mobilize influential figures in Jiangsu as the clubs involved learned that a serious incident had occurred.

• Wang Chao told his teammates to run when he made a move, then sat down as if agreeing to let the thugs shave his head.
• Tian Zhengguang attacked the thugs when one raised a steel pipe to break Wang Chao’s hand, defeating eleven of them in minutes.
• Tian Zhengguang explained that he had acted to protect Wang Chao and Spade Q, while Wang Chao insisted he would not let Tian Zhengguang take the blame alone.
• Wang Chao called He Jingping and described the attack, asking him to help reduce Tian Zhengguang’s punishment.
• He Jingping told Luo Jiu that Wang Chao’s hand had been targeted, then called Zhu Zeshi, who contacted Xiao Fei, Zhu Ding, and Wu Guanchao.
• Wu Guanchao called the people in charge of Osmanthus Fragrance Club and Spade Q to learn what had happened and their positions.

He Jingping and Xiao Fei used their connections to protect Wang Chao and punish those involved in the attack, while the case ended through secret negotiations. Zhu Ding later broke Yang Chi’s arm, and He Jingping told Wang Chao that Zhu Ding wanted to defeat him fairly on the court.

• He Jingping, Xiao Fei, and Luo Jiu spread word about Yang Chi’s scheme and asked their contacts to protect Wang Chao and Tian Zhengguang while excluding Yoshikawa Hiroshi from future opportunities.
• The thugs reported Wang Chao to the police, but separate interrogations exposed Yang Chi as the mastermind; Yang Chi was then badly beaten, and negotiations let him and Osmanthus Fragrance escape formal punishment.
• Yoshikawa Hiroshi left Osmanthus Fragrance and returned to Sakura Country, while Chinese table tennis officials agreed not to accept his future applications.
• Wang Chao became known as the “Shaved Head Youth” after his 33:0 victory, and Fan Xiaofan reprimanded Geng Shuai while rewarding Tian Zhengguang.
• Zhu Ding intercepted Yang Chi and smashed his left arm, nearly landing himself in prison before Zhu Zeshi and the clubs settled the matter.
• He Jingping explained to Wang Chao that Zhu Ding had attacked Yang Chi because he wanted to prove his superiority by defeating Wang Chao fairly.

He Jingping faced mounting criticism after Luo Jiu’s technical changes were followed by losses, while Wang Chao adapted to a new doubles partnership and led Spade Q through a five-match winning streak. Watching the backlash against He Jingping, Wang Chao worried about him but decided not to call, believing He Jingping had to overcome his own weaknesses before Wang Chao could call him teacher.

• He Jingping accepted responsibility for Luo Jiu’s technical changes after Luo Jiu lost an all-China match at the Austrian Open, while Sun Tianlong and China’s team won multiple titles at the Asian Championships.
• Wang Chao and Tian Zhengguang built chemistry as a doubles pair, adopting a high-risk attacking style that increased both their errors and their offensive power.
• Wang Chao, Lu Jia, and Tian Zhengguang led Spade Q to victories over Qiantang Tide Watching Club, Dongou Tea Industry Club, and Taihu Beauty Club, extending the club’s winning streak to five.
• Luo Jiu lost to Christian Hart in Athens, and He Jingping became the target of widespread criticism after Christian was then beaten by veteran Zhuang Huishen.
• Wang Chao considered calling He Jingping but chose not to, deciding that He Jingping needed to prove he could overcome his personal flaws before Wang Chao could call him teacher.

After Geng Shuai returned in top form, Spade Q swept Duck Head Club 3–0. Fan Xiaoxian brought Wang Chao to meet Qin Huachang, who explained how he had outmaneuvered He Jingping to choose Lin Li as his disciple.

• Geng Shuai told his teammates that Fan Xiaoxian had sent him to a strictly managed recuperation facility and paid for his stay upfront.
• Geng Shuai crushed Duck Head Club’s first singles player, and Spade Q defeated Duck Head Club 3–0 at Sequoia Stadium.
• Duck Head Club’s second singles player threw his racket and kicked a hole in a barrier, earning a five-match suspension and a ten-thousand-yuan fine.
• Fan Xiaoxian led Wang Chao to a private room, where he met national team coach Qin Huachang over a plate of stinky tofu.
• Qin Huachang teased Wang Chao about turning down He Jingping’s offer, then claimed his mental arithmetic made him superior to He Jingping.
• Qin Huachang revealed that he had started the rumor that Luo Jiu was the most talented of the Six Little Dragons so He Jingping would choose Luo Jiu while Qin selected Lin Li.

Qin Huachang tried to persuade Wang Chao to join the Qinmen by mocking He Jingping and recounting how much He had done for Wang, but Wang politely declined. He then told Wang about Geng Shuai’s past, ending as he named the Six Little Dragons who competed at the Denmark tournament.

• Qin Huachang described He Jingping as unreliable and attacked Pisces men, while Wang Chao still refused to become his disciple.
• Qin Huachang recounted how He Jingping had spent favors to resolve the incident involving Tian Zhengguang, then renewed his pitch for Wang to join the Qinmen.
• Wang Chao asked Qin Huachang about Geng Shuai, and Qin began describing Geng’s explosive temper and the Denmark stop of the ITTF World Tour.
• Qin Huachang explained that six talented newcomers had been called the Six Little Dragons and that the coaching staff sent them to international tournaments to test their abilities.
• Qin Huachang named Lin Li as the dragon grouped with Xiao Fei, and Luo Jiu, Zhu Ding, and Geng Shuai as the three grouped together.

Qin Huachang told Wang Chao how Geng Shuai lost his place on the national team after conceding a match against Christian Hart, despite leading 3:0. The story left Geng Shuai back in the provincial team, where he gave up on himself and disappeared from notice.

• Qin Huachang recalled how Luo Jiu, Geng Shuai, and Lin Li advanced through the Denmark Open, with Geng Shuai beating Luo Jiu and Lin Li defeating Xiao Fei.
• Geng Shuai took a 3:0 lead against Christian Hart, who began returning his attacks with high balls.
• Geng Shuai's fear of heights caused him to mishit the high-ball smashes, and Hart rallied to tie the match at 3:3.
• Geng Shuai conceded the final game, prompting the national team to send him back to the provincial team amid public backlash.
• Qin Huachang explained that Head Coach Cai Guodong had intended to bring Geng Shuai back later, but Geng Shuai gave up on himself and never regained notice.

Wang Chao realized Luo Jiu had helped Geng Shuai and Spade Q, while Qin Huachang left after revealing he had another potential disciple in mind. After Spade Q extended its winning streak and traveled to the Northeast, the team met Jingyuewan’s leader, Fang Yuan, who turned out to be Fan Xiaoxian’s close friend.

• Wang Chao figured out that Luo Jiu had arranged for Geng Shuai to join Spade Q and had later brought Wang Chao to the club.
• Qin Huachang left Jiangcheng and told Wang Chao that he had already considered someone in Liancheng City as his junior disciple.
• Spade Q won two more home matches, reaching eight consecutive victories and tying Poseidon Club for first place.
• Spade Q traveled to the Northeast to face the region’s top teams, and Wang Chao realized they were taking the train because Geng Shuai feared flying.
• Fang Yuan and five Jingyuewan men blocked Spade Q’s way, but Fang Yuan and Fan Xiaoxian revealed their close friendship and welcomed the team.
• Fan Xiaoxian introduced Fang Yuan as her college classmate and best friend, and Fang Yuan jokingly called Fan Xiaoxian her wife.

After Jingyuewan hosted Spade Q for a boisterous night of drinking, Wang Chao learned that Niu Linjun’s defensive chopping style made him a hard counter to Geng Shuai and threatened to decide the team match. Niu Linjun challenged Wang Chao to a best-of-five match, and Geng Shuai urged Wang Chao to accept.

• Jingyuewan’s players and Spade Q drank together until they abandoned their plan to discuss match strategy.
• Fang Yuan explained that Niu Linjun’s chopping style and endurance made him a hard counter to Geng Shuai, while Jingyuewan’s other singles players also outmatched Spade Q’s.
• Wang Chao watched Niu Linjun wear Geng Shuai down and narrowly beat him in a twenty-minute game.
• Niu Linjun challenged Wang Chao to a best-of-five match and said he would acknowledge Spade Q as the stronger team if Wang Chao beat him.
• Geng Shuai told Wang Chao to play Niu Linjun, and Wang Chao agreed.

Niu Linjun faced Wang Chao in a private match as Fang Yuan used the encounter to test whether Jingyuewan could defeat Spade Q. Fang Yuan revealed that Wang Chao might soon compete in an international cup that could earn him a Special Class Athlete title, and the match left him leading Niu Linjun 9:4.

• Niu Linjun entered his match with Wang Chao determined to win, knowing Fang Yuan hoped his victory would weaken Spade Q before their match against Jingyuewan.
• Fan Xiaoxian questioned Fang Yuan’s strategy, and Fang Yuan explained that Jingyuewan needed Niu Linjun to beat Wang Chao to compete for the annual championship.
• Fang Yuan told Fan Xiaoxian that Sakura Country planned an international cup tournament that could give Wang Chao a route to a Special Class Athlete title.
• Fan Xiaoxian realized Wang Chao’s potential could make Spade Q a serious playoff threat, while Fang Yuan warned that Geng Shuai might defeat any second singles player.
• Wang Chao led Niu Linjun 9:4 on the live scoreboard.

Wang Chao overwhelmed Niu Linjun with patient short placements and fluid attacks, prompting Niu to concede before the first game ended. The chapter then shifted to the packed Spring City arena, where Black Spade Q and Jingyuewan began their league match with Niu Linjun facing Geng Shuai.

• Niu Linjun found that Wang Chao's short placements and varied attacks neutralized his chopping style and left him mentally overwhelmed.
• Niu Linjun called a timeout, and Fang Yuan urged him to concede to prevent lasting psychological damage.
• After the timeout, Niu Linjun accepted Fang Yuan's advice and conceded, while Wang Chao and Geng Shuai recognized that the result had steadied Geng Shuai.
• Spring City Sports Arena filled with spectators for the match between Black Spade Q and Jingyuewan, with Luo Xiaoyu among the visiting supporters.
• The clubs submitted their lineups, and the first match began with Niu Linjun playing Geng Shuai.

Geng Shuai surprised Niu Linjun by using an unusually aggressive flick attack and then preparing a high-toss serve, breaking from the habits that had defined their previous matches. The game remained tied at 1:1 as Niu Linjun tried to understand what had changed.

• Brother Da Ma hyped Geng Shuai’s chances against Niu Linjun and opened a betting poll before their match.
• Geng Shuai flicked Niu Linjun’s short serve, scoring with a net-cord ball and taking a 1:0 lead.
• Fang Yuan learned that Geng Shuai and Wang Chao had practiced multiball drills the previous evening and guessed that Geng Shuai was playing mind games.
• Geng Shuai attempted another difficult in-table flick, but it hit the net, tying the score at 1:1.
• Geng Shuai moved to the corner of the table and tossed the ball high to prepare an unfamiliar high-toss serve, leaving Niu Linjun astonished.

Wang Chao’s advice and the away fans’ cheers helped Geng Shuai challenge Niu Linjun with aggressive serves and over-the-table flicks. Geng Shuai took a 2:1 lead and prepared to smash a long chop, committing to Wang Chao’s all-or-nothing strategy.

• Geng Shuai used a high-toss serve to force Niu Linjun into a weak return, then blasted the ball at him to take a 2:1 lead.
• Wang Chao told Fan Xiaoxian that he had trained Geng Shuai to flick short backspin balls and had helped arrange for Luo Xiaoyu’s supporters to cheer him on.
• Luo Xiaoyu led the away fans in cheering for Geng Shuai, who raised his fist and shouted before serving, earning a yellow card from the referee.
• Geng Shuai’s second high-toss serve forced Niu Linjun back, and Niu Linjun returned a long, low, spinny chop.
• Geng Shuai chose to smash the long chop instead of looping it, following Wang Chao’s all-or-nothing advice.

Geng Shuai attacked relentlessly and defeated Niu Linjun in the first two games, overturning the matchup that had frustrated him for five years. Niu Linjun began using high-ball tactics in the third game as Jingyuewan’s standings hopes hung on the match.

• Geng Shuai relied on high-risk attacks to take the first game 13:11, then celebrated so wildly that he mistakenly tried to shake Niu Linjun’s hand before the match was over.
• Wang Chao told Geng Shuai to keep attacking, and Geng Shuai won the second game 11:8 as Niu Linjun’s resistance faded.
• Fang Yuan’s instructions and Jingyuewan’s need to protect its league position pushed Niu Linjun to use any means necessary to win.
• Niu Linjun began giving Geng Shuai high balls and opened the third game with a high-toss serve modeled on Yoshikawa Hiroshi’s.