The opening exchange of offense and defense (II)

He gave Yueye Hongming beside him a somewhat aggrieved look.

Under the basket, Yu Zhu and Hakaono Kazuta were already prepared, and the instant the ball struck the rim, they began fighting for position.

Yu Zhu planted both feet firmly beneath the basket, leaning his massive frame forward slightly and pressing his shoulder against Muyen Shuduo, trying to force him out of prime position.

Muyen Shuduo refused to give ground. He spread his arms and held his position, occasionally pushing with them to try to move Yu Zhu aside and gain the advantage for the rebound.

Their bodies pressed tightly together, their muscles taut with effort, their sharp eyes fixed on the ball about to fall.

But a moment later, instead of dropping off the rim, the ball bounced sharply upward as if enchanted, then fell straight down and struck the edge of the rim again.

Another soft clink rang out, and the ball bounced up again, though not quite as high this time.

Then it kept bouncing back and forth along the rim, falling, rising, falling again, rising again. Every impact seemed to strike everyone's heart.

The arena was so quiet that the crisp sound of the ball hitting the rim could be heard.

With each successive impact, the ball's bounce grew weaker. At last, it lost its upward momentum and settled gently on the edge of the rim, beginning to wobble from side to side.

One moment it leaned inward, as though it would drop through the hoop in the next second; the next it tilted outward, looking ready to roll off at any moment.

That faint wobble was more nerve-racking than any fierce clash.

At the sight, almost everyone from Ryonan began cursing in unison in their minds: Don't go in!

Don't go in!

Don't go in!