Li Fei pulled himself from his thoughts as the plane's announcement signaled that they were about to land.
He knew that the battle between him and the Knicks was about to officially begin on this basketball soil, renowned for its fanaticism and toughness.
When the Knicks' charter plane landed at Indianapolis International Airport, a long-planned "welcoming ceremony" was waiting for them.
Hundreds of fans in the Pacers' blue-and-gold jerseys had packed the exit of the airport's private passageway so tightly that not even water could pass through.
They held no aggressive signs and carried no dangerous items, but they expressed their "respect" for the Knicks in the most primitive—and most piercing—way possible.
"F**k You, New York!"
"Go to Hell, Li Fei!"
"Miller's gonna kill you!"
The deafening curses and boos crashed over them like a tsunami.
The fans raised their middle fingers high, greeting every Knicks player who emerged from the passageway with the vilest words they could muster.
As the team's unquestioned centerpiece, Li Fei was naturally the target of "special attention."
The moment his tall figure appeared, the noise instantly reached its peak.
Countless camera flashes flickered wildly across his face, mixed with all manner of unbearable insults, as if they wanted to devour him alive.
Even seasoned veterans like Allan Houston and Larry Johnson frowned, while younger players like Stephen Jackson showed traces of nervousness and anger on their faces.
Li Fei's expression did not change at all. He did not even raise his eyelids.
Wearing headphones, he walked straight through the crowd without looking aside, as though everything around him had nothing to do with him.
That utter disdain only enraged the fanatics further, and their shouting grew even more vicious.
With airport security struggling to maintain order, the entire Knicks team boarded the bus to