A Shocking Offensive and Defensive Play

Ryonan High School Gymnasium.

Just as Qing Junce held the ball with both hands, making eye contact with Sendoh, a smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his lips.

At the same time, he began to dribble the basketball.

Qing Junce first switched the ball from his left hand to his right, and then from his right hand to his left. The movements were fluid and seamless, executed in one go without the slightest pause.

Thump…

Thump…

Thump…

Whoosh…

The next moment, Qing Junce's figure vanished from Sendoh's sight, becoming a blur.

What?

Sendoh's pupils constricted, and he was greatly alarmed.

Immediately after, the sound of a basketball hitting the floor rang out to his side, accompanied by a gust of wind.

His heart tightened, and he quickly turned his head to look, but could only catch a glimpse of a red silhouette.

Uekusa Tomoyuki behind him widened his eyes, looking utterly incredulous. He couldn't help but exclaim, "So fast! He actually shook off Sendoh just like that."

Uozumi also hadn't expected Sendoh to be broken through so easily.

He stood under his own basket, every nerve in his body tensed.

The speed Qing Junce had just displayed was truly astonishing.

On the court.

Qing Junce had already dribbled the ball to just before Ryonan's three-point line.

Koshino Hiroaki strode forward, attempting to block his advance.

However, when he stood in front of Qing Junce, his vision blurred, and then he felt a gust of wind blow past.

Qing Junce's figure had unexpectedly disappeared from his sight.

So fast.

Koshino Hiroaki's body couldn't react at all; he could only squint, trying to catch a glimpse of the figure.

But in the end, he couldn't even see the opponent's back.

After breaking past Koshino Hiroaki, Qing Junce directly stepped into Ryonan's paint and then took off for a layup.

Just as Qing Junce was about to slam the ball into Ryonan's hoop.

A hand suddenly appeared, blocking Qing Junce's path to the dunk.

Slap…

The basketball was blocked by this hand and flew off to the side.

Oh?!

Qing Junce looked with some surprise towards the owner of the hand.

The one who had blocked him was none other than Sendoh, who had managed to catch up.

This guy actually caught up, Qing Junce thought to himself.

At this moment, Ryonan's bench erupted in excited cheers and shouts.

"Great, he blocked it!"

"As expected of Sendoh-senpai."

"That really startled me just now."

Aida Kenichi, who was recording the game, jumped up excitedly, the pen in his hand almost snapping.

Only one person's emotions were completely different from the rest: Ryonan's coach, Taoka Moichi.

His eyes were filled with gravity.

The speed Qing Junce had just shown was already on par with Sendoh's.

This was definitely not good news.

Although he had great confidence in Sendoh on his team.

Now, Shohoku also had Akagi Takenori and Rukawa Kaede.

And now, there was Qing Junce as well.

He felt a faint sense of unease.

The members of Shohoku's bench looked on with regret.

"No way?!" Ayako exclaimed in shock.

"What a shame! So close," Yamada Tadashi sighed.

Kuwata Toki nodded in agreement. "Exactly! I can't believe even A-Ce got blocked by that Sendoh. Sendoh is really strong!"

Seeing Qing Junce get blocked, Shimizu Kanon's expression didn't change, she just said with a hint of helplessness, "A-Ce, honestly..."

On the court.

Qing Junce landed back on the ground after being blocked.

Koshino Hiroaki snatched the ball ahead of everyone else. With a wave of his hand, he tossed it to Uekusa Tomoyuki, shouting, "Now's our chance, fast break..."

Uekusa Tomoyuki caught the ball without any hesitation and immediately sprinted towards the Shohoku basket.

Sendoh also quickly turned around the moment he landed and raced towards Shohoku.

The Shohoku players hurried back to defend.

However, Ryonan's counterattack was too fast, making it difficult for them to catch up.

Just then, a white figure flashed like a streak of light, surpassing everyone and entering the Shohoku's paint first.

It was Sendoh.

Seeing it was Sendoh, Uekusa Tomoyuki didn't hesitate and threw a long pass with all his might.

The ball, trailing an orange-yellow streak, crossed half the court and landed directly in Sendoh's hands.

Not good.

The Shohoku players were shocked.

Sendoh leaped up, holding the ball in one hand, preparing for a slam dunk.

Just as everyone thought Sendoh was about to score, a figure quietly appeared, stretching out an arm and swinging a hand from the side.

Snap...

A crisp sound.

A large hand forcefully swatted the ball away from Sendoh.

What?

Sendoh's pupils contracted, and he looked to his side in disbelief.

Qing Junce's face, wearing a wicked smile, met his gaze.

When did this guy... get here? Sendoh's heart trembled.

It wasn't just him.

Everyone in the gymnasium was stunned by the scene before them.

They were not only surprised that Qing Junce could still block Sendoh in this situation.

They were even more shocked by Qing Junce's movement while blocking Sendoh.

In mid-air, Qing Junce's body was tilted at an almost 45-degree angle forward, completely lacking balance.

And he still managed to make an accurate block under those circumstances.

Qing Junce and Sendoh both landed on the ground.

Beep...

At the same time, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the first half.

"Huh?! It's over already? What the heck! I was planning to warm up and then make a cool shot!"

At this moment, the entire gymnasium was eerily silent.

All eyes were on the figure wearing the number 9 jersey.

Even Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had been pestering Coach Anzai to let him play, fell silent.

Qing Junce paid no attention to the surrounding gazes.

He turned around and looked at Sendoh, whose face was filled with shock, and said, "Ah, you're pretty good! Only a 10-point difference, quite strong!"

Sendoh no longer had his usual playful smile.

His expression was serious as he stared at Qing Junce, remaining silent for a long time.

From that one offense and defense, he had already understood.

This person in front of him was not weaker than himself; in fact, he might even be a bit stronger.

However...

The next moment, a smile appeared on Sendoh's serious face. "But that's what makes it interesting."

Ryonan's bench.

Aida Kenichi's eyes widened, his mouth agape. He pointed at Qing Junce on the court, exclaiming excitedly, "Oh... Oh my god! How... how amazing! Is that kind of movement something a human can do? And he actually blocked Sendoh."

The other Ryonan players swallowed hard, still unable to calm down from what they had just witnessed.

Taoka Moichi had stood up from his seat at some point.

His face was still filled with disbelief, and his eyes held nothing but shock.

What exactly had he just seen?

A player who was no less than Sendoh, and possibly even stronger.

Most importantly... what was with that speed?

In terms of pure speed alone, he might have been significantly faster than Sendoh.

Damn it!

Taoka Moichi clenched his fists, filled with resentment.

He had worked tirelessly, begging and pleading, just to recruit one genius like Sendoh.

But what about Shohoku!

Akagi Takenori, Rukawa Kaede, and now Qing Junce.

He looked at Anzai Mitsuyoshi, sitting on the Shohoku bench as still as an old monk in meditation, his eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

The spectators in the second-floor stands of the gymnasium also began to discuss amongst themselves.

"Wow! Oh my god! That guy just blocked Sendoh, he's too strong!"

"Who is that guy? I've never heard of him before!"

"His speed just now was so fast! He caught up to Sendoh in the blink of an eye."

Akagi Haruko's eyes sparkled with a unique light as she exclaimed excitedly, "So amazing, Qing Junce is so amazing, he actually stopped Sendoh. Shohoku is saved."

Matsui, standing beside her, glanced at her and said, "You said the same thing about Rukawa Kaede earlier."

The Sakuragi Legion was also shocked by Qing Junce's move.

Mito Yohei remarked, "That guy really isn't a simple person."

Takamiya Nozomi added, "I really couldn't tell, he looks like such a pretty boy."

O-Nann Yuji glanced at Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was sitting on the Shohoku bench, and said, "With this, Sakuragi probably won't get a chance to play."

Noma Chuichiro said bluntly, "Even if he does get on the court, what can that guy do?"