One-on-One

Jiang Shi said nothing. He nodded, walked behind Zhu Zhan, and raised his hands in a defensive stance.

Zhu Zhan flicked the basketball to Jiang Shi, who flicked it back. Zhu Zhan caught the ball and faced Jiang Shi head-on, a trace of excitement in his eyes as he stared intently into Jiang Shi's.

Jiang Shi narrowed his eyes slightly and stared back at Zhu Zhan.

Their gazes met. Zhu Zhan held the basketball at his waist, bent slightly, lowered his knees, and suddenly made a probing step to the right!

Jiang Shi's large hands instantly blocked Zhu Zhan's path of attack. Then he pressed tightly against him with his burly body.

Seeing no way through, Zhu Zhan felt helpless. He immediately turned his back, leaned into Jiang Shi, switched the basketball from his right hand to his left, and stepped back to create some distance for another drive.

"Hmph, brat, come on—drive past me! I'll spot you three points. We'll play to six!" The moment Jiang Shi started playing basketball, he became incredibly excited. With his arms spread and body slightly crouched, he followed Zhu Zhan closely like an eagle hunting prey.

"Go, go! Uncle, go!" Zhang Yuqing shouted excitedly from the side.

Hearing that Jiang Shi was willing to give him three points, Zhu Zhan's fighting spirit flared up.

You're sticking too close for me to drive past you. Then I'll shoot! Zhu Zhan came up with an idea. He dribbled with his left hand, suddenly shook his body, and stepped forward with his left foot.

"Hm? Going for a drive?" Even the experienced Jiang Shi was fooled by Zhu Zhan's move. He immediately lowered his center of gravity and lunged to his right.

Slap!

The instant Zhu Zhan's extended left foot hit the ground, he slapped the basketball with his left hand, and it bounced straight back into his hand.

Using his right foot as a pivot, he leaped backward and instantly opened up some distance from Jiang Shi.

He gripped the basketball with both hands, rose onto his toes, lifted his arms, and lightly flicked the ball with his long fingers, his eyes locked on the hoop!

"Swish—" The spinning basketball flew toward the basket.

"Ah—" Zhang Yuqing's eyes widened as she stared at the arc the ball traced through the air.

"A step-back jumper!" Jiang Shi froze for a moment, secretly praising Zhu Zhan's quick thinking.

Zhu Zhan's move had been clean, decisive, smooth, and beautiful. Yet Jiang Shi was not worried at all, because one look at the ball's trajectory and rhythm told him it would not go in!

Sure enough!

With a loud bang, the basketball struck the rim. Jiang Shi turned, jumped, and grabbed the rebound.

"Zhu Zhan, do you know why that shot didn't go in?" Jiang Shi dribbled the ball as he walked toward the three-point line, preparing to attack.

"My release was a little rushed," Zhu Zhan answered honestly.

"Wrong! It was because your breathing was off and you had no rhythm!" Jiang Shi shouted, glaring fiercely at Zhu Zhan.

"When you stepped back, your breathing was already thrown off. When you released the ball, your shooting form wasn't in place at all. You had no rhythm whatsoever. Do you know what rhythm is? Breathing—relaxed breathing!"

Jiang Shi flicked the basketball to Zhu Zhan. Zhu Zhan nodded thoughtfully and began paying attention to his breathing.

Jiang Shi received the ball and dribbled slowly. He first performed a crossover between his legs, then looked at Zhu Zhan and said, "Guess—am I going to drive or shoot?"

Zhu Zhan spread his arms and watched Jiang Shi's movements closely, shaking his head to indicate that he did not know.

"Remember what I said. Maintain the rhythm of your breathing and calmly observe your opponent's movements!" Jiang Shi said as he dribbled.

Then Jiang Shi rose onto his toes, and he was already airborne. Zhu Zhan inwardly cried out in alarm and hurriedly lunged forward, jumping in an attempt to block Jiang Shi's view.

Jiang Shi was already taller than Zhu Zhan. After jumping, he seemed to hang in the air for an instant, swiftly adjusting his shooting form to perfection. Zhu Zhan's outstretched hand only reached Jiang Shi's nose. Jiang Shi lightly flicked his fingertips, and the basketball spun toward the hoop.

"Swish—" Nothing but net!

"Yeah! Nice one, Uncle!" Zhang Yuqing shouted.

Jiang Shi caught the falling ball and walked outside the three-point line again. Zhu Zhan stared tightly at his movements. Without realizing it, his breathing had begun to grow ragged, and his footwork no longer seemed as fluid.

"Whew—" Zhu Zhan panted heavily, his movements growing somewhat stiff.

Jiang Shi shouted and took a powerful, savage stride like a bull, easily leaving Zhu Zhan behind as he charged toward the basket. Zhu Zhan immediately followed close behind, but Jiang Shi bumped him with his powerful body, forcing him back a step.

Slap! The basketball rolled through the hoop and fell to the ground. Jiang Shi scored an easy layup, then turned around with a relaxed smile to look at Zhu Zhan.

Very soon...

"Five to zero. Your ball!" Jiang Shi said.

Watching from the side, Zhang Yuqing said, "Go, junior brother! Your senior sister is watching!"

Zhu Zhan felt helpless. He bit his lip, took the basketball from Jiang Shi, and walked to the three-point line.

He flicked the ball to Jiang Shi, who flicked it back and said, "The predicament you're facing now is just like the National High School Student Tournament you'll soon face!"

Zhu Zhan was stunned by his words and could not help clenching his fists.

Holding the basketball, Zhu Zhan did not rush to attack this time. He let out a deep breath, looked at Jiang Shi, recalled the breathing method Jiang Shi had taught him, and slowly relaxed.

Jiang Shi nodded. "No matter how strong an opponent you face, you cannot rush, panic, or be eager to attack. Control your own rhythm instead of letting your opponent control it. Only then can you win the game!"

Zhu Zhan nodded, confidence rising in his heart.

He bent down, slowly lowered his shoulders, protected the basketball at his left waist, and lifted his head to stare at Jiang Shi. A calm light flickered in his black eyes.

Now this is getting interesting, Jiang Shi thought.

He also put away the smile on his face and began treating Zhu Zhan seriously. However, this time he did not press too tightly, leaving Zhu Zhan some room to drive.

"In a game, if the defender is about two steps away from you and you're very confident in your shooting, then you should shoot!" Jiang Shi gave Zhu Zhan a "hint."

Zhu Zhan said nothing, merely nodded slightly. The basketball at his left waist suddenly struck the ground, but his body abruptly paused! In the instant the ball hung in the air, his body suddenly swayed from side to side.

Jiang Shi secretly praised him. In his eyes, Zhu Zhan had become a blur, as though his entire body had been pixelated.

Zhu Zhan's mind was completely clear. He dribbled once on the left, lowered his center of gravity, and violently pulled the basketball to the right!

Right! Jiang Shi shouted inwardly and immediately lunged to the right.

But Zhu Zhan suddenly pulled back with his right hand. The basketball bounced off the ground and returned to the left.

"Hm?" Seeing this, Jiang Shi immediately shifted his feet and lunged to the left.

Zhu Zhan abruptly stopped again, slapped the ball, pulled it back to the right, then suddenly accelerated and used a beautiful jump step to get past Jiang Shi.

He lightly raised his arm and banked the basketball off the backboard.

Slap! The basketball struck the backboard and bounced into the hoop.

"Great shot!" Jiang Shi and Zhang Yuqing cried out almost at the same time from behind him.