Shocking Words

Yueye Hongming also chimed in at that moment, saying, Forget who he is, this is Ryonan, not some place where just any stray cat or dog can hang around. Even if it's someone Sendoh recommended, he can't just join casually. In the end, it still comes down to strength.

On the other side, a heavily built giant over two meters tall listened quietly to their conversation, showing no intention of chiming in.

He was Yu Zhuchun, the captain of Ryonan High School.

He merely listened silently from the side, but a thoughtful gleam radiated within his eyes.

Captain Yu Zhuchun, Center, #4, 3rd Year
Yueye Hongming, Shooting Guard, #6, 2nd Year
Uekusa Zhizhi, Point Guard, #8, 2nd Year
Shishang Liang'er, Power Forward, #5, 3rd Year

The heavy iron doors of the Ryonan High School basketball gym were pushed open, and a figure stepped inside.

He wore a green short-sleeved shirt, bearing a stern expression, sharp eyes, and a steady gait, carrying a hint of unquestionable authority and rigor.

The atmosphere throughout the entire basketball arena instantly grew heavy the moment he stepped inside, as if an invisible force had descended. All the players subconsciously straightened their backs.

This person was none other than Tiangang Maoyi, the coach of the Ryonan High School Basketball Club.

He swept his gaze across the entire venue, his eyes scanning every young face like a knife.

Immediately, he spoke in a deep voice, Gather!

All the players immediately stood neatly in the center of the court, forming a single line, which included the newly joined first-year freshmen.

They stood straight, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Tiangang Maoyi looked at the team before him, his brows furrowing slightly as a trace of doubt laced his tone.

Didn't Sendoh come?

Ikegami Ryoji spoke up immediately, a hint of hesitation evident in his tone.

Uh, Coach Sento, he just went out. It looks like he went to pick someone up.

Pick someone up?

Tiangang Maoyi was slightly stunned, his brows furrowing even tighter as he apparently failed to react for a moment.

Yueye Hongming gave a soft reminder, It's that person Sento mentioned before.

Tiangang Maoyi suddenly had a flash of realization, a golden glint flashing in his eyes. He finally remembered; he had indeed asked Sendoh earlier to try and recruit that former friend of his, and it looked like it had already succeeded. Coach, should we wait a moment?

Sento?

Yu Zhu asked tentatively at that moment.

Tiangang Maoyi gave two light coughs, then spoke with a slightly serious air, In that case, let's do a self-introduction first.

As his words fell, his gaze swept across the neatly standing line of players, his eyes revealing a hint of the scrutiny unique to a coach, before he said to the group of second and third-year players, You guys go first, let these newcomers get acquainted.

Yu Zhu, Ryonan's powerhouse, stepped out first. Standing over two meters tall, his intensely oppressive presence put immense pressure on the group of first-year newcomers.

My name is Yu Zhuchun, and I am the current captain of the Ryonan High School basketball team. My position is center.

Next came the self-introductions of the second and third-year veterans like Yueye Hongming, Shishang Liang'er, and Uekusa Zhizhi.

After the second and third-year veterans finished introducing themselves, it was the turn of the first-year freshmen. Most of them were characters never mentioned in the original work, until—My name is Zuo Xiangtianyan.

I am 165 centimeters tall and weigh 52 kilograms. I hope to contribute to the team.

Once everyone finished their self-introductions, the scene instantly plunged into a brief silence.

Tiangang Maoyi also lowered his head slightly, wearing a daydreaming expression as if he hadn't listened to the freshmen's self-introductions at all.

Seeing this, the first-year freshmen were baffled, while the second and third-year players looked somewhat awkward.

Seeing this situation, Yu Zhu stepped forward immediately and said loudly, Coach, are there any further instructions?

Tiangang Maoyi snapped back to his senses, and just as he wanted to say something, the doors of the basketball gym were violently shoved open.

A streak of sunlight slanted in from outside the door, and everyone subconsciously turned their heads to look. The person who came into view was none other than—Sendoh and the others! The person they were waiting for had finally returned.

Hi everyone, I'm back.

Sendoh waved at the crowd and motioned.

You guy, you're finally back.

Yueye Hongming couldn't help complaining, a hint of grievance riddling his tone.

Sendoh scratched the back of his head, wearing a slightly apologetic smile. Haha, sorry, sorry. Catching up with an old friend made me lose track of time.

His tone was relaxed, but everyone looked at him with deadpan expressions.

Immediately afterward, two figures slowly walked into the gym behind Sendoh. They were Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei. Their pace was neither fast nor slow, yet it seemed to carry a certain invisible rhythm, every step landing as if it were treading on everyone's heartbeat.

The moment they saw the two, everyone fell into a daze. The entire space seemed to have the pause button pressed; the air froze, sounds vanished, and even the sound of breathing seemed to disappear.

Seeing that everyone was stunned into speechlessness by Chi Tong's entrance, Sento smiled slightly and spoke in a relaxed tone, Let me introduce everyone.

With that, he pointed at Chi Tong and said, He is my teammate from junior high, named Chitong Lingyu. He's the person I told you about before.

Everyone's gazes locked onto Chi Tong in unison. Their eyes held doubt, curiosity, disdain, and scrutiny.

This guy is the person Sendoh talked about? Why is he rocking red hair? He looks so full of himself. Is he really that strong?

Huh?

Is this guy total pretty-boy material?

Just like Sendoh!

Hmm, good height, just no idea how his actual strength is.

Who is this person?

Everyone seems to care about him a lot.

Chi Tong paid no attention to the gazes cast by the surrounding people. He merely took a step forward, his pace neither heavy nor light, yet it felt as though it stepped right into everyone's heart.

His gaze swept calmly over the crowd, his eyes devoid of any excess emotion, holding only calmness, firmness, and a trace of unquestionable conviction.

Then, he spoke, his tone steady yet carrying an undeniable force.

Hello everyone, nice to meet you for the first time. I am Chitong Lingyu, graduated from Saint Radiance Middle School. Starting today, I am officially joining the Ryonan High School Basketball Club.

His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. And his next sentence exploded like a thunderclap across the entire basketball gym.

The reason I came here is for one goal only, and that is the championship!

I have always believed that victory is the only meaning of competitive sports, and I look forward to fighting shoulder to shoulder with all of you.

As his voice fell, the entire basketball gym lapsed into a dead silence. No one spoke, no one applauded, and even the sound of the wind outside the gym seemed to have stopped.

Everyone's expressions froze in that instant—shock, bewilderment, doubt, utter stupefaction. They never expected that this newly arrived freshman would be so explosive the moment he opened his mouth.

This guy is way too arrogant, talking about the championship right off the bat!

Who does he think he is?

Even Tiangang Maoyi wore a dumbfounded expression, having never imagined that Chi Tong would be so unceremonious.