In episode 46, Liu Chuanfeng and Sakuragi Hanamichi stood apart, one on his left cold as ice, the other on his right blazing like fire. The remaining players followed neatly behind them, their formation precise and their steps uniform.
The sight somehow carried the oppressive air of a mafia parade.
It was Shohoku!
Whoa, that must be Akagi! He's so tall!
Wow, is that the super rookie Liu Chuanfeng? He's tall too!
Who's that redhead beside him?
Never seen him before. No idea, but he doesn't look like a good guy.
The Lingnan players murmured among themselves, their gazes roaming over the Shohoku group.
Suddenly, Sakuragi Hanamichi grinned wildly, his expression arrogant. He slapped his chest and loudly declared, "Hahaha! Leave Sento to me!"
His smug expression practically screamed that he was number one in the world, as if he had not come to play basketball but to challenge the place.
Before he could finish, Takenori Akagi brought a merciless chop down on his head, knocking him flat onto the floor.
"Idiot! Do you even know what manners are?"
Clutching his head, Sakuragi Hanamichi wailed miserably.
"Ouch! Damn gorilla, attacking me the moment you get here!"
At that moment, Taoka Moichi stepped forward. With a respectful expression, he gave Anxi Guangyi a deep bow.
"My sincerest apologies, Coach Anxi. I should have paid you a visit myself, yet I made you come here personally today. I truly feel ashamed."
"Not at all, not at all. No need for formalities."
Anzai Mitsuyoshi smiled and waved his hand, his expression kindly.
The Lingnan players exchanged bewildered looks at the sight.
"That's Shohoku's coach? Our coach is actually treating him with such respect!"
Yueye Hongming lowered his voice, his face filled with surprise.
Shishang Liang'er narrowed his eyes as he studied Anzai, looking thoughtful.
"That fat old man doesn't look simple."
Just then, Chi Tong spoke calmly. "Anxi Guangyi was once a player on the Japan National Basketball Team. After retiring, he became a university basketball coach, but later resigned for some reason. Only after that did he come to Shohoku to coach."
"Huh?" Everyone froze, their gazes turning in unison toward Chi Tong.
"Chi Tong, I never expected you to know the opposing coach's background so well!"
Yueye Hongming looked utterly stunned, and the others wore equally astonished expressions.
They had not noticed Chi Tong investigating Shohoku at any point!
Chi Tong remained calm as he said, "I'd seen related reports before, so I had some impression of him."
"Oh, so that's what it was!"
Everyone suddenly understood.
The moment Shohoku entered, Chi Tong had already begun observing them.
They looked mostly the same as in his memories. He just did not know whether their strength had changed compared to the original story.
Now that Lingnan had him, no one knew how far Shohoku could go. Chi Tong would not hold back. It would depend on whether Shohoku could find new life in adversity or fall completely into the abyss.
His gaze shifted to Sakuragi Hanamichi.
At the moment, that guy was joking around with Xiangtian Yanyi, grinning without the slightest hint of tension.
Liu Chuanfeng had Sento to deal with him, and the other players were nothing to fear.
The only one truly worth watching was Sakuragi Hanamichi. Though he had only been playing basketball for a few months, he always managed to do unexpected things in games that defied common sense.
The only people who could truly restrain him, aside from Sendoh and Yu Zhu, were himself.
And for now, Lingnan Basketball Team's bench depth was still somewhat lacking.
At that moment, a figure suddenly flashed through his mind. That person had once been a member of Lingnan Basketball Team, but had later left the team for certain reasons.
Chi Tong's heart stirred. After the game, perhaps he should speak with the coach and see whether that person could return to the team. It should not be too difficult.
After the coaches finished exchanging pleasantries, it was time for the captains of both sides to step forward.
Chi Tong remained composed, a proper and polite smile appearing on his face as he slowly walked toward Anxi Guangyi.
On the other side, Akagi came before Taoka Moichi and solemnly offered his hand. "I am Shohoku's captain, Takenori Akagi. Please advise me."
"Oh, Takenori Akagi, hello!"
Taoka Moichi replied with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. "Yu Zhu has been working hard all this time with the goal of defeating you!"
"I hope you'll go easy on him today and show some mercy!"
Hearing that, Takenori Akagi paused slightly before instinctively turning to search for Yu Zhu.
In his impression, Yu Zhu was Lingnan's captain and should have been speaking with their coach right now.
But the instant his gaze swept over the area, his pupils suddenly contracted.
It was not just him. Everyone from Shohoku stood frozen in place, their faces filled with shock.
They saw a crimson figure slowly walk toward Anxi Guangyi.
Chi Tong smiled faintly, his politeness carrying an unmistakable authority. His eyes were deep as an abyss, as though they could swallow light itself and inspire instinctive wariness.
Every step he took was steady and powerful. Every movement naturally exuded an aura and dominance that stood above ordinary people.
The moment Anzai Mitsuyoshi saw Chi Tong, the pupils behind his lenses abruptly shrank. His usual kindly expression froze, replaced by a fleeting flash of alarm.
Even Liu Chuanfeng, who had always been indifferent toward everyone and everything, narrowed his eyes slightly. His sharp gaze locked firmly onto Chi Tong, as if confirming something.
Chi Tong stopped before Anxi Guangyi and extended his hand to shake his. His voice was calm and clear. "Hello, Coach Anxi."
"I have long admired your name. I am Chitong Lingyu, captain of Lingnan High School's basketball team."
"H-He is?"
"What is he saying?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"Isn't Yu Zhu Lingnan's captain?"
"He's saying he's the captain. Is he lying?"
Shohoku's players instantly erupted into an uproar, voices overlapping as their faces filled with shock and doubt.
The manager of the Shohoku basketball team was Ayako. She stood to one side, her pretty face stiff with disbelief.
Her full, sensual lips had unconsciously fallen open into an O shape.
As the person responsible for Shohoku's intelligence, she had compiled every opponent's information herself. Yet she had never heard that Lingnan had changed captains.
What exactly was going on?
Everyone's gaze focused on Chi Tong at once. The entire gymnasium fell into a strange silence, as though even the air had frozen solid.
To break the deadlock, Taoka Moichi stepped forward. A trace of barely concealed pride showed on his face as he slowly explained, "He is our basketball team's new captain. He only entered high school this year, so it's perfectly normal that you haven't heard of him."
"What?"
At those words, the Shohoku group was too stunned to speak.
Sakuragi Hanamichi widened his eyes and pointed at Chi Tong, saying in disbelief, "That first-year guy is actually the captain?"
"Then isn't he just like me?"
The moment he spoke, an image of himself defeating Akagi on the court suddenly flashed through his mind.
If a first-year can become captain, doesn't that mean I can too?
"Hehehe..." The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Sakuragi Hanamichi's expression gradually shifted from contemplation into a foolish grin full of wild fantasies. However, the rest of Shohoku was nowhere near as optimistic as he was.
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