Chapter 029: We Truly Didn't Come for a Fight, Group Stage Champions

Returning to the Red Star Basketball Base's competition area.

“How did it go?” The captain patted Tang Hui’s shoulder. “What did that guy say? Is he willing to consider becoming a professional basketball player?”

“Don’t even mention it,” Tang Hui waved his hand dismissively. “He was just saying we’re a trash high school. I didn’t have the face to reply. He even said ‘friendship comes first, competition second,’ and told us not to be upset if they crush us too badly...”

“...”

The captain and a few others were momentarily speechless, then burst out laughing. It seemed this was the funniest joke of the year.

“All right, since the other side is so polite, let’s not take it too seriously in the match. Winning by fifty points should suffice,” the captain said with a chuckle, waving his hand.

The whistle sounded, and the players entered the court.

The opposing players averaged a height of 185 centimeters, with four of them over 190 centimeters tall, and one short guy at 170—clearly the point guard.

“Wow, people from third-rate high schools are so tall,” muttered a boy next to Song Kai.

“Yeah, they probably don’t study, just eat, drink, and have fun all day. That’s why they grow so tall.”

Liu Bin frowned and turned to Song Kai. “Song Kai, something’s off this time. The other side... they seem pretty professional.”

Song Kai forced a bitter smile.

“Well, it’s just a game. Relax,” Song Kai clapped his hands, encouraging everyone.

The game began—there seemed to be no need for a jump ball; the opposing team simply inbounded from the sideline.

“Everyone, take your positions. Don’t panic,” Song Kai called out loudly.

Tang Hui smirked, then casually tossed the ball high toward midcourt.

Before the ball even descended, a giant from the other side, nearly two meters tall, leapt up, caught the ball, and then lobbed it even higher, this time right under the backboard. There, another player soared, caught the pass in midair, and dunked it in one fluid motion.

“Holy hell! Are they playing aerial relay?” A player stood dumbfounded at the sideline.

The crowd erupted in amazement and applause—better than watching the NBA! It felt like a live-action version of Slam Dunk.

Song Kai sighed. There was no way to play like this; the other team was a head taller across the board, and crucially, their skills were excellent. On his side, only he and Liu Bin had any decent technique, and both were short in stature.

“Heh, relax everyone, this is just the beginning. Friendship first, competition second—we won’t crush you too badly, fifty points is enough,” Tang Hui called out to Song Kai, grinning mischievously.

Song Kai glanced at Tang Hui, muttering, “That smile really deserves a punch.”

Liu Bin and the others remained stunned, still craning their necks. That series of passes had left them completely dumbfounded—was this even basketball? Could anyone still play?

At Class Seven’s section, the girls’ fan squad fell silent. The trash high school players were simply too strong; it looked like tragedy was inevitable.

Zhou Ran stared wide-eyed. “What’s going on? This isn’t fair at all! I think basketball matches should be divided by height—one-seventy against one-seventy, one-eighty against one-eighty, one-ninety against one-ninety! Those guys are like Optimus Prime; they should be playing against the Transformers. That would be fair.”

“Exactly!” Liu Miaoyu chimed in. “Who even invented this sport? It’s so boring.”

Although this was still just the group stage, professional basketball players from other schools were already crowding around.

They were all teams aiming for the championship tomorrow. Of course, they knew the Red Star team was their biggest rival.

“No wonder they’re a professional-level team. Look at their coordination—a casual toss and they’re alley-ooping in the air,” Kong Qiang marveled.

“That’s because the opponents are too weak. Whoever controls the rebounds controls the game. Now, every rebound is Red Star’s; how can the other side compete?” Sun Dao laughed.

“Haha, that Casanova must finally understand what it means to meet someone beyond his world,” Kong Qiang pointed at Song Kai and laughed.

Song Kai, meanwhile, was quite relaxed. He dribbled the ball, saying, “All right, everyone, keep your spirits up. The guys from that third-rate high school are simple-minded; they’re no match for us. You three, set screens for me. Liu Bin, watch your positioning and be ready to take over when needed. Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!” The others shouted, psyching themselves up.

The ball was passed to Song Kai.

He dribbled.

Tang Hui immediately closed in, eyes fixed on Song Kai, grinning. “Hey, buddy, nice skills. Interested in—”

Before he could finish, Song Kai was already in the air.

Tang Hui froze. Why was he jumping? Why jump here? This was midcourt, a meter and a half from the three-point line!

With a clang, the ball soared and landed cleanly in the basket.

“Whoa…” Class Seven’s cheerleaders erupted.

The crowd was in awe.

They were all amateurs, and amateurs love excitement.

But the other school teams watching courtside were truly astonished—they knew the difficulty of Song Kai’s move. This wasn’t just a long-range set shot but a rapid dribble, sudden stop, and a backward jump shot. Even national team players would struggle with that.

Song Kai landed, looking at Tang Hui. “What were you trying to say?”

“I… I wanted to say…” Tang Hui stammered in surprise.

“Tang Hui! Come inbound the ball!” The captain called from behind, face stern.

The other players perked up; they realized Song Kai was even tougher than they’d expected.

Tang Hui inbounded, passed it, another pass, under the basket—a slam dunk.

Class Seven’s players just stood there, not even attempting to block. There was nothing to block; besides Tang Hui, the opposing players were all over 190 centimeters tall, impossible to stop.

Class Seven inbounded. Song Kai received, passed, got it back, jumped outside the three-point line—scored!

The sequence was fluid and graceful.

The whole crowd roared.

The other side inbounded, passed, passed, dunked… scored, but no cheers.

Class Seven inbounded, Song Kai got the ball, dribbled, jumped back—three-pointer, scored.

Another roar from the crowd.

Red Star’s team inbounded, passed, passed, scored.

This time, the crowd booed.

Tang Hui was crestfallen—what a humiliating game.

Class Seven inbounded. Song Kai took the ball, and three defenders closed in, like three pillars, boxing him in tightly.

“Tch!”

The crowd buzzed with outrage; Class Seven’s cheerleaders were indignant, accusing the third-rate high school students of poor sportsmanship.

Tang Hui was on the verge of tears, glancing at the captain.

The captain’s face was dark.

Song Kai passed—the ball reached Liu Bin. Liu Bin sprinted, with no one blocking him, and drove in for a layup—scored again!

“Damn!” The Red Star team captain was genuinely frustrated now.

How could it be? Five rookies—no, four rookies—how could they possibly outscore his team?

The rest of the match was hard-fought for Song Kai. He had to keep moving, shaking off the three giants clinging to him like sticky glue.

Yet the score remained ahead, because Song Kai’s side kept sinking three-pointers.

The opponents tried desperately to lock down Song Kai, but he was too quick, darting around like a monkey.

Not only that, but Song Kai shot from anywhere—often tossing it from beyond the midcourt line, and it still went in!

A match that had seemed utterly one-sided ended the first half with Class Seven ahead by fifteen points over Red Star!

Because Song Kai only shot three-pointers, while the other side focused on two-pointers.

Halftime.

Song Kai slumped on the bench, sweating buckets, panting like a dog, tongue hanging out.

Girls clustered around him, towels and water bottles in hand, gazing at him with adoration as they attended to him.

Song Kai waved them off, gulping for air. “Teacher, let’s admit defeat.”

“Huh?” Those around him were startled.

Song Kai smiled bitterly. “They’re professionals. We’re no match. I’m exhausted and can’t make it through the second half.”

Though Song Kai had impressive stamina, twenty minutes of ultra-high intensity play had drained him—after all, he hadn’t yet reached the level of ‘Lightning Meridian’!

Liu Yajuan laughed. “All right, let’s concede. No need to play the second half.”

Class Seven’s students sighed, but since Song Kai said they’d lose, he probably would, so they might as well withdraw.

Just then, five men walked over from the other side.

Five in sports gear, all but Tang Hui towering like utility poles.

“Damn, are they coming to beat us up?” a player asked in terror.

“Song Kai, did you humiliate them too much? I’ll go get the security guard,” Liu Miaoyu said worriedly.

Zhou Ran pouted. “Third-rate high school, lose at basketball and then want to fight? Not afraid! We have numbers, even if we’re all girls.”

Liu Bin was exasperated, protesting, “Come on, sisters, we’re boys too!”

Tang Hui and his group came over and stopped.

A bunch of girls immediately surrounded them.

“What do you want? Looking for a fight? Don’t think we’ll be scared just because you’re tall!”

“That’s right—this is City First High, our turf, not your high school’s.”

“Hmph, security’s right at the door, so think twice!”

The girls all chirped threats.

Tang Hui turned, face twisted in misery, looking at the captain. “Captain, I told you—we’re just here for humiliation.”

The captain’s face flushed red. He waved his hand. “We just want to speak to your class’s player for a moment.”

“Planning to poison him?” one girl’s mind wandered wildly.

Tang Hui coughed. “Captain, I think we need to explain first—we’re not from a trash high school, so they’ll be reassured. Otherwise, we’ll be seen as villains.”

Liu Yajuan stepped forward, head held high, looking up at the towering men.

“What do you want?” Liu Yajuan summoned her teacher’s authority.

“Teacher, it’s like this—we’re conceding this match. We’d like to speak to your student, or at least leave a contact number. I think someone important will look for him tomorrow,” the captain said gently.

“Oh, all right. I’m his homeroom teacher; leave your contact with me, and I’ll let him know if anything comes up!” Liu Yajuan replied, still wary—afraid they wanted Song Kai’s contact to seek revenge after the game.

“We’re not here to beat him up,” the captain explained helplessly.

Tang Hui quickly tugged the captain’s sleeve to silence him.

Sure enough, the surrounding girls immediately erupted in accusations.

“See, they really are here to fight.”

“Third-rate high schoolers have such poor manners.”

“All because they lost the match…”

Tang Hui was close to tears as he hurriedly pushed his teammates away, leaving his contact with Liu Yajuan before slinking off.

Soon, the referee’s table announced the result: Class Seven won the group stage, and would join the other three winners for tomorrow’s semifinals!