Sect Leader and Martial Arts Alliance Leader

Although Wang Chao was surprised, he was much calmer than Jiang Shan and said with a smile, "Tell me first, are you a national team coach like yourself? If not, don't bother mentioning it."

The cook looked very serious, leaned closer, and lowered his voice as if revealing a huge secret: "Qin Huachang, have you heard of that name?"

Wang Chao blinked.

He felt a bit embarrassed because, judging by the cook's tone, this Mr. Qin must be very famous, at least more famous than Mr. Qin from a certain digital forum in his previous life.

However, even though he had researched table tennis information about this world online before, he really didn't recall this name.

Jiang Shan had clearly heard the name. He had just managed to get up from the ground and had shifted half of his backside onto the chair. Upon hearing the name Qin Huachang, his throat made a "gah" sound, as if he was about to choke, and he slid back down onto the chair.

The cook was also confused. He stared at Wang Chao for a long time and said, "You haven't heard of him?"

Wang Chao nodded honestly.

"Ah, I was too presumptuous. You're a professional player who just turned pro from amateur status. It's normal to only know players and not coaches."

The cook sighed and explained, "Then, you must know Sun Tianlong and Lin Li, right?"

Wang Chao quickly replied, "I've heard of them."

Sun Tianlong was recognized as the undisputed number one player in the current table tennis scene. Even though he unexpectedly lost the gold medal at the World Championships last year, he still maintained his top position in the rankings due to his overwhelmingly dominant past achievements. Anyone who played table tennis would have heard his name.

As for Lin Li, although not as formidable as the Dragon Team, he was one of the top five main players in the current Chinese national men's table tennis team. He was a formidable figure who had won a silver medal at the World Championships and a gold medal at the Table Tennis World Cup.

The cook lowered his voice further, "Both of these players were personally trained by Qin Huachang. Their entire technical and tactical systems were developed under Qin Huachang's guidance. When they won championships, Qin Huachang was their on-site coach... Do you understand now?"

Jiang Shan had gotten up from the ground again and was sitting beside them, blinking frantically. His small face was flushed red, clearly having a lot to say but feeling that the matter was too important to interrupt casually. He could only keep pointing at his own nose.

His meaning was probably: "I'm available! As long as I can be Qin Huachang's disciple, I'll do anything! Introduce me too, please!"

Wang Chao was somewhat shocked.

Someone like the cook, a retired national team legend, held a position in the table tennis world similar to a sect leader in a martial arts novel. Such people were usually very proud and had extremely high standards.

Therefore, over the past few years, even though every player had tried their best to get his attention, he hadn't taken a liking to any of them.

Wang Chao didn't have any ulterior motives towards the cook, but he was also self-aware. He was a high school student who had just transitioned to a professional career. Even if his performance was good, a master-level figure like the cook probably wouldn't think much of him.

So, he guessed that the cook, seeing him being difficultly treated by Jiang Long, had taken pity on him and intended to introduce him to a provincial team coach, which would also help him expand his network and pave his way to some extent.

But he never expected that the cook would actually bring up such a super influential figure.

If the cook was a sect leader, then this Coach Qin Huachang was probably the leader of the martial arts alliance.

How highly did the cook think of him?

"Would someone like that be interested in me?" Wang Chao couldn't help but ask.

"He is interested," the cook said. "I sent him the match from 'Evening Sports News' and the match you had with Wu Li a few days ago. He's very interested and willing to talk to you in person."

Wang Chao remained silent for a long time.

This matter had come too suddenly, and he needed to think it through carefully.

As it turned out, the cook was also a tsundere. He seemed to look down on him on the surface, but secretly he was paving the way for him?

And it seemed like he had already paved half of it?

"But my stamina is not very good, and my foundation is weak," Wang Chao said.

"I've already mentioned it to Old Qin. He said it's not a problem. As long as the talent is high enough and the potential is high enough, the rest can be trained slowly. Don't forget, Sun Tianlong was also a late bloomer. He didn't win his first world championship until he was twenty-four."

The cook thought Wang Chao was being overly worried. He showed a rare smile and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, and don't underestimate yourself. Although my coaching abilities have flaws, my judgment of people is accurate. If I say you can do it, you can do it."

Wang Chao still shook his head, "I haven't met him, so who knows if we'll get along. Moreover, if I want to be his disciple, I'll have to go for a tryout in the Imperial Capital first, right? Traveling such a long distance, the travel expenses won't be cheap..."

"Old Qin has a very good personality and isn't fierce at all, so you can rest assured. As for travel expenses, aren't you usually quite smart, kid? Why are you being silly now? Luo Zhi will definitely reimburse you for such a good thing..."

The cook suddenly stopped speaking. He had a keen sense that something was wrong. He stared at Wang Chao for a long time and asked suspiciously, "You're not willing?"

Wang Chao nodded.

The cook frowned, "Why?"

Wang Chao didn't answer and retorted, "You yourself are a national team coach and have personally trained national team main players. If you really think highly of me, why don't you take me yourself? Why introduce me to someone else?"

The cook was stunned for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh, "I can't."

Wang Chao stared at him intently, remaining silent.

Clearly, a simple "I can't" was not an explanation.

"I really can't..." The cook seemed very frustrated. "My biggest regret is not forcibly taking Luo Jiu as my disciple during the two-way selection seven years ago."

Luo Jiu was one of the top five main players in the current Chinese national men's table tennis team. He was a shakehand grip player, whose two-sided loop drives were sharp and fierce, covering the entire court without any blind spots. He was once praised by the International Table Tennis Federation as "the most advanced controller of two-sided loop drive techniques." Having such a disciple should theoretically be the pride of his head coach.

Wang Chao and Jiang Shan both leaned forward simultaneously, anticipating some secret gossip from a high-level source.

The cook didn't disappoint them. "Do you know that when the two-way selection was conducted, Luo Jiu didn't fill in my name in the 'Most Anticipated Head Coach' column; he filled in Qin Huachang's."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chao began to vaguely understand what the cook meant.

"I liked Luo Jiu so much. I had never seen such a good prospect. I felt he would definitely achieve a Grand Slam in the future, so I pestered him until Old Qin was forced to refuse Luo Jiu and let him come to me."

After saying this, the cook lowered his head slightly. At this moment, his figure, clad in a white chef's uniform, appeared somewhat stooped. "I made him change his stance, change his tactics, change his racket, change his rubber, and even forced him to undergo two major technical modifications that injured his bones and muscles. But no matter how I changed him, how I altered him, I could never truly transform him into the number one player in the world."

"Initially, he just couldn't beat Sun Tianlong, but he could still secure the second position in the national team. Later, he couldn't even beat Lin Li. But during the disciple selection seven years ago, I clearly felt that Lin Li's talent was far inferior to Luo Jiu's."

"Later, Bai Feng joined the team and created his own backhand loop with a shakehand grip, becoming unrivaled. I had Luo Jiu play against Bai Feng, and he lost again."

Jiang Shan interjected quietly, "Could it be that he wasn't diligent enough when practicing?"

The cook shook his head. "I can guarantee that he worked harder than anyone else."

Wang Chao also said, "Then could it be that his mindset isn't good? Even with the strongest ability, he can't perform during matches."

The cook still shook his head. "His mindset is very good. Even when he loses badly, he never breaks down."

The two fell silent.

They really didn't know how to persuade him.

Objectively speaking, the cook was indeed inferior to Qin Huachang.

"It's not shameful for me to be inferior to Old Qin. After all, he's the number one of the Qin school, and I, He Jingping, am only the second person of the Zhu school. If we're really going to compare, my senior brother should be the one to compete with him."

It was only at this moment that Wang Chao finally learned the cook's name.

He Jingping, former national team coach and the teacher of Luo Jiu, a main player of the national table tennis team.

He just didn't know who his senior brother, the so-called number one of the Zhu school, was.

He must… perhaps… probably… should be someone surnamed Zhu?

He Jingping saw the expressions on both their faces and continued, "I don't care about saving face, nor am I afraid of being scolded. I just feel that I've let Luo Jiu down, wasting a potential Grand Slam talent. This is absolutely unforgivable, and I feel ashamed before the country."

Thanks to "HJYq" for the monthly ticket.