Uozumi's Challenge (2)

Episode 42. So, I have an idea and wanted to ask your opinion.

What do you think about having Chi Tong serve as captain of the Lingnan Basketball Team?

Recalling what the coach had told him yesterday, Yu Zhu's gaze toward Chi Tong became extraordinarily complicated.

If not for yesterday's intra-squad game, he would have refuted the coach without hesitation and never accepted Chi Tong.

But after experiencing that game and witnessing Chi Tong's strength firsthand, he found that he could not come up with a single reason to reject him.

He did not resent Chi Tong because of this. To him, the position of captain was less an honor than a heavy burden.

In the past, there had been no more suitable candidate on the team, so he had no choice but to shoulder that responsibility. Now that the team had finally found someone more suited to the role than him, he actually felt relieved. He genuinely wanted to give up the position. With that, he stopped training and slowly walked toward Chi Tong, who was practicing.

Chi Tong sensed someone approaching but did not turn around. He simply calmly shot the basketball in his hands.

The ball swished into the net, clean and crisp.

Only then did he slowly turn around, calmly meeting Yu Zhu's gaze.

The two stared at each other, and for a moment, neither spoke.

The air seemed to freeze as a silent contest quietly unfolded between them.

Everyone around them also stopped training and turned their eyes toward the two facing off.

What is Captain Uozumi doing?

Yueye Hongming frowned and muttered, his face full of confusion.

Ikegami Ryoji stroked his chin and shook his head. "Hmm?"

"I don't know, but the atmosphere feels a little off."

Uekusa Tomoyuki blinked, his gaze shifting back and forth between Chi Tong and Yu Zhu.

Are those two going to fight?

Oh no, it looks like something huge is happening again!

Xiangtian Yanyi's heart raced, her eyes filled with anticipation mixed with a hint of unease.

Among everyone present, perhaps only Sendoh had vaguely guessed what was happening. Looking at Chi Tong and Yu Zhu, a knowing smile quietly curved his lips. If nothing unexpected happens, the captain will be decided today.

Just as everyone held their breath, countless guesses churning through their minds, Yu Zhu finally spoke.

A mountain-like pressure suddenly burst from him and bore down on Chi Tong. His eyes blazed as he said in a low, commanding voice, "Let's play a game. Use all your strength!"

Chi Tong's expression remained unchanged. He stood perfectly still, as though that oppressive force did not exist.

He merely looked Yu Zhu in the eye and calmly asked, "Is that really a good idea?"

The unspoken meaning was clear: with so many people watching, where would Yu Zhu put his face if he lost?

But Uozumi seemed not to understand. He snorted coldly. "What, are you scared?"

In that case, Chi Tong's expression remained calm as he slowly closed his eyes.

The next instant, he abruptly opened them.

"As you wish." Two rings of crimson-gold light appeared within his mismatched eyes, like the gaze of a god descending upon the world.

At the same time, an imperial pressure erupted with a thunderous roar, sweeping through the court like a storm and instantly crushing Yu Zhu's momentum into nothing!

The aura Chi Tong suddenly released swept across the entire court like a storm.

Everyone's bodies stiffened, and the expressions on their faces froze, revealing undisguised terror.

Uozumi's pupils contracted sharply, his eyes full of shock and disbelief.

He had never imagined that Chi Tong could unleash such terrifying pressure!

At the sidelines, cold sweat poured down Shishang Liang'er's forehead, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Th-this, this... what's going on?"

"W-what did he do?"

Yueye Hongming's breathing stopped, and his legs went weak. It was as though he had just escaped an invisible force of oppression, his voice filled with lingering fear.

"This pressure is insane. You can even feel it from outside the court!"

That feeling again. Sento quietly lent his support!

Feeling that familiar oppressive force, scenes from middle school surfaced in his mind.

Is this guy about to use that?

Even now, Sendoh still did not fully understand what Chi Tong's Eye of Heaven truly was. But he knew one thing: once Chi Tong entered that state, the opponent would not merely be unable to attack—they would struggle even to stand steadily.

Use that?

Yueye Hongming turned toward Sendoh and asked with a puzzled expression, "Sento, what exactly is this 'that' you're talking about?"

Sento fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Actually, Chi Tong didn't use his full strength in yesterday's intra-squad game at all."

"What?"

The entire court erupted. Whether they were first-year newcomers or second- and third-year veterans, all of them widened their eyes in stunned disbelief.

They all stared at Sendoh, their faces full of astonishment and disbelief.

"S-Sendoh, y-you aren't joking, are you?"

Shishang Liang'er's voice shook. He could barely believe what he had heard.

Uekusa Tomoyuki hurriedly echoed him. "Yeah! That guy is already that strong, and that still wasn't his full strength?"

Xiangtian Yanyi, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation from nearby, was so shocked that her jaw nearly dropped. What did I just hear?

My attendant was still holding back yesterday?

Oh no, just how strong is he?

Faced with everyone's shock and questions, Sento lowered his head slightly, sorting through his thoughts.

Even he did not fully understand it himself. But during the two years he had spent with Chi Tong in middle school, he had personally witnessed some of Chi Tong's abilities. Especially those eyes—he knew Chi Tong's vision nearly covered the entire court, as though he could look down over the whole game.

Even more terrifying, those eyes seemed able to see through every movement an opponent made and predict every tiny intention.

When he thought about how, no matter what crossover or feint he had tried in the past, Chi Tong had always cut off his route a step ahead of time, that despairing feeling of being completely seen through surged up in him again. His heart trembled. Sento coughed twice before slowly speaking. "Well, I don't really understand it that accurately either, because Chi Tong rarely uses that move."

She paused, and her tone grew more solemn. "But there is one thing I can be certain of. His eyes possess an almost terrifying ability to see through an opponent's movements. In front of him, no matter what feints or crossover drives you make, he can react a step in advance, as though he knows what will happen in the future."

For an instant, everyone froze. They stared blankly at Sendoh as an eerie silence fell over the court.

"What kind of joke is that?"

Yueye Hongming was the first to react, his face full of disbelief.

"This isn't some fantasy novel. How could something like that be possible?"

Ikegami Ryoji also recovered from his shock and hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, th-this is way too ridiculous, isn't it?"

"C-could it have some kind of superpower?"

"How could a person possibly do something like that?"

Uekusa Tomoyuki frowned as well.

"Exactly. If that's true, wouldn't Chi Tong be invincible?"

Seeing the doubt on their faces, a rare look of gravity and seriousness appeared on Sento's face.

"It really is unbelievable. At first, I didn't want to believe it either. But I experienced it firsthand."