Chapter Thirty: Zhuang Bi’s Provocation

Even if I fail, I won't regret it!

...

The third period was PE. In the second year of high school, there were two PE classes each week. Nanshui Foreign Language School aimed for the holistic development of its students, so no main subject teacher ever encroached on PE time.

PE classes usually began with the coach gathering everyone, then having them run a lap around the four-hundred-meter track, after which they were dismissed to do as they pleased. Today was no exception.

After the lap, they dispersed. Yi Sheng Feng was about to leave the field and head back to the classroom, walking toward the teaching building.

With his back to the field, Yi Sheng Feng felt something strike him hard.

Of course, with his current strength, the force was negligible, but it was obvious someone had done it on purpose.

He turned around and saw a basketball at his feet. Zhuang Bi, standing several dozen meters away, looked at him with a provocative gaze. Clearly, Zhuang Bi was the culprit.

Zhuang Bi raised a middle finger at Yi Sheng Feng and shouted, "Yi Sheng Feng, how about we play a little game? I won't beat you up today. Let's settle it with a one-on-one basketball match. Loser stays away from Chen Yunxi. Can you do that?"

Since they'd just been dismissed, neither their class nor the other students had returned to their classrooms. Everyone watched them, anticipating the drama.

Previously, Yi Sheng Feng had been bullied by Zhuang Bi; he never resisted, but there were always those who enjoyed watching. Now, many were again treating it as entertainment.

Yi Sheng Feng thought, "You really are full of yourself, Zhuang Bi. Do you think I'm still the same as before? I wasn't planning to trouble you, but since you've come looking for it, don't blame me for what happens next."

Suddenly inspired, Yi Sheng Feng said, "Alright, but let's add another condition: whoever loses must run a lap around the track, shouting 'I'm an idiot' the whole way."

...

Zhuang Bi hadn't expected Yi Sheng Feng to agree so quickly; he was stunned. He thought Yi Sheng Feng would ignore him or walk away.

Zhuang Bi was burly and had played basketball since childhood, though his grades were mediocre. However, his family was wealthy enough to send him to Nanshui, a school for the privileged.

His greatest hobby was basketball, and he was quite skilled, having been selected for the team in his first year.

He was confident in his ability to beat Yi Sheng Feng, even though he knew Yi Sheng Feng played basketball as well. He'd watched him before and found his skills unremarkable, so he planned to toy with him.

Now that Yi Sheng Feng had agreed so readily, Zhuang Bi couldn't quite figure him out.

...

"Alright..." Zhuang Bi glanced deeply at Yi Sheng Feng, trying to discern where Yi Sheng Feng found the confidence to challenge him.

But seeing Yi Sheng Feng's self-assurance, Zhuang Bi felt a flicker of doubt, which was quickly extinguished by his arrogance.

This kid—who does he think he is? Hasn't he had enough of getting beaten?

Zhuang Bi's basketball skills were unmatched at Nanshui; not just among the second-years, but even among the third-years, only the senior basketball team could rival him.

His height gave him an edge, making him a dominant force in countless one-on-one matches. He was bursting with confidence: "Why should I be afraid of you?"

"Yi Sheng, maybe you shouldn't do this," said a classmate who came over and tugged at Yi Sheng Feng's sleeve. It was Jiang Zhi Ming, his friend and fellow student.

Jiang Zhi Ming was concerned about the wager, fearing Yi Sheng Feng would suffer a loss and wanted to persuade him to reconsider.

After all, Nanshui Foreign Language School had three grades, thirty-six classes each, totaling one hundred and eight classes. With fifty students per class, there were 5,400 students, plus teachers and staff, nearly six thousand people.

If Yi Sheng Feng lost, he'd embarrass himself before thousands—a notorious fame.

"Old Jiang, thanks, but don't worry. I've got this," Yi Sheng Feng replied.

"Alright... Yi Sheng," Jiang Zhi Ming wanted to say more, but Yi Sheng Feng's confident look silenced him.

...

Their match had no referee, but the crowd wasn't limited to their own class. At that time, at least six or seven classes from all three grades were having PE.

So, at least a hundred people watched Yi Sheng Feng and Zhuang Bi's duel. Zhuang Bi wasn't worried about Yi Sheng Feng cheating.

As for losing, Zhuang Bi never even considered it.

...

The two would use half the basketball court. Zhuang Bi claimed he'd give Yi Sheng Feng the first ball, so he served, allowing Yi Sheng Feng to attack.

Yi Sheng Feng didn't care who served. Zhuang Bi was destined to lose anyway.

...

Zhuang Bi dribbled hard inside the three-point line, then tossed the ball to Yi Sheng Feng.

Yi Sheng Feng caught it, squeezed the ball firmly with both hands, and began dribbling with his right hand—but his movements were slow.

Since childhood, Yi Sheng Feng had admired Iverson's crossover—a move also known as the "Butterfly Step" for its elegance.

He had practiced it many times but, with his previous average physique, his breakthrough speed was slow and the effect unimpressive.

But now, after the Pure Yang Patriarch had tempered his body and bones, and with his cultivation at the first level of Qi Refining, his physical abilities were at the peak of ordinary humanity. Executing Iverson's signature move was effortless.

The essence of the Butterfly Step was explosive initial speed, deceiving the defender with a fake direction.

If the defender stuck close and fell for the fake, he'd lose his balance and collapse. Even if he didn't fall for it, he'd still be powerless against Iverson, whose acceleration after the move was unmatched.

The most iconic example was Iverson faking out the legendary Jordan.

...

Yi Sheng Feng was about to use Iverson's signature "Butterfly Step."

He started by dribbling with his right hand, then alternated both hands, switching to his left. Raising his center of gravity, he lifted his left foot.

A subtle movement of his right foot enabled a dramatic shift, lifting his whole body and making his dribbling graceful—like a nimble leopard.

Zhuang Bi, watching Yi Sheng Feng's flashy dribbling, was already plotting to steal the ball.