"I never thought that after so many years away from the court, I'd still meet opponents so evenly matched with me."
"Likewise. My blood is already boiling! This is going to be a legendary game we'll remember for the rest of our lives!"
On the basketball court beneath the Red Moon, excited smiles spread across the players' faces on both sides. In that moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten their age, their identity, and even where and when they were. They simply poured their sweat out on the court, as though their bodies had turned back the clock to an afternoon in high school. They could even hear people cheering and applauding their brilliant passes and shots.
If they had to describe this game in a single word, it would have to be-
Exhilarating!
"What a rush! I never thought your third-place finish in the senior-year three-on-three basketball tournament would count for so much. To think I'd meet such worthy opponents after all these years!" Mr. Axe cradled the basketball, panting as he raised his head with an almost reverent air.
"Likewise." Zhou Qingshou wiped off his sweat. "I thought you were just talking big. I didn't expect you to actually be an evenly matched opponent."
"You old guys have still got it!" Zhang Pan was breathing hard, his face just as excited. "Now that our game has reached its climax, the 'Ghost on the Basketball Court' should show up soon."
"I'm not the man I was before." Even the usually cautious Mr. Greatsword wore a vicious grin as he passed the ball to Mr. Axe. "Anyone who dares interrupt our game-even a ghost-will get their arms and legs kicked clean through!"
"..."
Outside the basketball court, Su Bai, who had been filming with his phone the whole time, watched