Chi Tong Takes the Court (2)

At this point, quite a few schools had also taken notice of Saint Radiance Middle School. Sendoh, whose performance had been unstoppable all the way through, had especially become a major focus of attention.

As for Chi Tong, he had not taken the court from beginning to end, so no one had noticed his existence at all.

Soon, it was the final day of the week.

Today, Sacred Radiance faced its first formidable opponent since the tournament began: Autumn Harvest Middle School.

Autumn Harvest Middle School was a long-established school that had occupied a spot in the top eight for years. It made the top eight almost every year, which showed just how strong the school was.

Autumn Harvest Middle School's point guard in particular had some renown throughout middle school basketball. He also had a nickname—Autumn Harvest's Strategist—which indirectly proved that this point guard was skilled at devising strategies and arranging tactics.

The whistle blew. Right at the start of the game, Sacred Radiance's offense was halted by Autumn Harvest. Sendoh was double-teamed and found it difficult to break free.

Sacred Radiance had a hard time finding a safe opportunity to pass to Sendoh. As a result, their ball was intercepted, and Autumn Harvest scored on the counterattack. This was the first time Sacred Radiance had been stripped and countered since the tournament began.

But the game was far from over. Sendoh immediately broke free from the double-team. The instant he received the pass, he charged straight toward the opposing basket like an unbridled wild horse.

Yet before he could reach the basket, another double-team arrived. They blocked his left and right, while the point guard personally held the middle.

With that, Sento's path forward, left, and right was nearly completely sealed off. It seemed Sento only had one option now: pass the ball.

But the next second, Sento flashed forward. With a feint, he fooled all three opponents, successfully escaped their encirclement, and charged all the way into Autumn Harvest's paint to sink the ball. Sacred Radiance pulled one back.

As time passed, the situation on the court began to shift. Autumn Harvest seemed to have spotted Sacred Radiance's weakness: aside from Sendoh, everyone else was merely average.

So, under the deliberate arrangements of Autumn Harvest's point guard, they began making adjustments specifically aimed at Sendoh.

From then on, no matter where Sendoh went, he would be met with at least two defenders. It was unbearably frustrating.

Taking advantage of Sendoh being restricted, Autumn Harvest continuously attacked Sacred Radiance, and the score gradually tilted in Autumn Harvest's favor: 6:15, 8:19, 12:28.

Five minutes had passed, and the score gap had already reached ten points. Coach Nakamura frowned at the sight, but he did not call a timeout. He wanted to wait a little longer. Yet after another five minutes, Sacred Radiance's situation not only failed to improve, but showed signs of worsening.

The score had reached 18:36. Coach Nakamura could no longer sit still and immediately called a timeout.

Sacred Radiance Middle School requests a timeout.

Chi Tong, you're replacing Ito next. Remember, your task is to find a way to close the score gap.

Coach Nakamura instructed him.

Chi Tong nodded.

Yes.

Ito Hongshu said bitterly to Chi Tong, "I'm counting on you from here on out. That guy isn't simple. Be careful."

Chi Tong nodded.

"Don't worry, Senior Ito. I'll get us back in this," Chi Tong said as the game resumed.

The instant Chi Tong stepped onto the court, his unusual hair color and mismatched pupils immediately drew the attention of everyone in the arena.

Chi Tong walked onto the court at an unhurried pace, his expression as calm as still water, as though his side was not the one trailing.

Sacred Radiance Middle School made a substitution?

Who is that person?

Why haven't I seen that hair before? What a strange color. Did he dye it?

He seems to be a first-year freshman.

What is Sacred Radiance's coach thinking? Why put in a bench player?

Could Sacred Radiance have given up already?

The spectators talked over one another, all discussing Chi Tong and doubting whether he could change Sacred Radiance's current predicament.

But those words did not affect Chi Tong in the slightest.

Amid the spectators' doubts, Autumn Harvest's curiosity, and Sacred Radiance's trust, Chi Tong stepped onto the court.

When Sendoh saw Chi Tong take the court, he let out a sigh of relief. "Ah, you're finally playing. Now I can relax a little too."

Chi Tong looked at him and replied, "Two people shouldn't be enough to stop you, should they?"

"Uh..." Hearing Chi Tong's words, Sendoh felt a little guilty. He had not expected Chi Tong to see through him. Although the two opponents double-teaming him had restricted his movement, they had not completely shut him down. If he went all out, he was confident he could escape their double-team, but doing so would consume a great deal of stamina.

Chi Tong did not continue questioning Sendoh. None of that was important. He casually glanced at the Autumn Harvest players, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "We can talk about the rest later. Let's catch up first."

Since the tournament began, this was the first time Chi Tong had appeared before everyone.

Kobayashi smiled and directly inbounded the basketball to Chi Tong.

After receiving the ball, Chi Tong swept his gaze over the court ahead while slowly dribbling.

The sound of the basketball striking the floor echoed again and again. It sounded no different to Autumn Harvest's players, but to Sacred Radiance's players, it was like the beat of an encouraging war drum.

Because they understood and trusted Chi Tong, a sliver of hope rose in the hearts of Sacred Radiance's players.

Before long, Chi Tong dribbled past the half-court line and was immediately intercepted by the opposing point guard.

The opponent looked Chi Tong up and down a few times, a disdainful expression appearing on his face.

"Is Sacred Radiance out of players?"

"They actually sent out a little brat like you!"

Chi Tong ignored the mockery and merely looked at him calmly.

Seeing this, Autumn Harvest's point guard curled his lip and continued taunting him. "Kid, not just anyone can be a point guard. Let me teach you how to be one!"

As he spoke, a vicious grin appeared on his face, as though Chi Tong before him were an ant he could crush whenever he pleased.

Chi Tong remained unmoved. The basketball continued bouncing up and down beneath his hand, but all of a sudden, the sound of it hitting the floor abruptly stopped.

At first, Autumn Harvest's point guard did not notice anything. But when he sensed something was wrong, he suddenly realized it—the sound of the ball hitting the floor had disappeared?

He hurriedly looked at Chi Tong's hands. But where was the basketball?

The basketball had vanished without anyone noticing.

"Huh?"

"Where's the ball?"

Autumn Harvest's point guard looked utterly confused.

But at that moment, the sound of the basketball striking the floor rang out again—only it came from behind him.

"How is that possible?!"

He turned around in shock, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

At some point, Qie Yuan Sunren had already dribbled to Autumn Harvest's basket. No one was guarding him at all.

Qie Yuan Sunren calmly leaped for a layup. The ball went through the net. Sacred Radiance 20, Autumn Harvest 36!

"What just happened?"

"How did Chi Tong pass it over there?"

"I didn't notice it at all!"

All of Autumn Harvest's players wore utterly bewildered expressions.