Chapter 308 - 221: Unassailable
...
At eight in the morning, the Pearl Harbor Training Center was swarmed by reporters and media from all over. Their long-focus lenses and cameras were all aimed at the arena.
Today was the first day of the Shanyou Province Collegiate Team Selection Tournament. Sixteen teams from across Shanyou Province would fight through four rounds to determine the top two, who would then represent the province in the inter-provincial team tournament several months later.
The spectator stands were also nearly full. Some were Pearl Harbor locals, while others were family and friends of the competitors who had made a special trip from other parts of Shanyou Province.
Standing just inside the competitor’s passage, Su Zhi looked out, feeling a wave of emotion.
He was actually more or less used to it; after all, it was a similar feeling back when he competed in the city league. You might be nervous your first time on stage, but after a few more times, you learn to be calm and composed.
It was also clear how much importance the media placed on the team tournament. No matter how you hyped it up, the city league was ultimately an individual event, and its scope was limited to a single city. A team tournament, on the other hand, represented an entire school, so it naturally attracted all sorts of media outlets.
This was only the selection tournament, yet the atmosphere was already more lively than the city league finals Su Zhi had experienced.
The spotlights, the arena, the reporters, and the opponents—everything was ready.
All that was left was to fight!
"Alright, let’s do a quick huddle."
Su Zhi smiled faintly and held out his right hand.
Shao Ya then placed her right hand on top of his, followed by Fang Yuan, Cao Mingyu... The six members of the team stacked their hands together, then threw them down and apart, like a firework bursting.
"Let’s go!!!"
A few reporters quickly snapped their shutters, capturing the moment. In truth, such huddles were a common sight. After all, everyone had prepared painstakingly for two weeks—some even longer—just waiting for this moment when their sweat would finally bear fruit.
As the instructor during the training period, Ke Yan was serving as the chief referee for the selection tournament.
After a brief announcement of the match schedule, the tournament began immediately!
Compared to previous years, this year’s team tournament omitted the pointless opening ceremony and speeches from higher-ups, which was, it had to be said, a major highlight.
It also meant the audience’s attention was maxed out from the very beginning!
[Selection Match 01: Vast and Mighty vs. No Silver Party Team]
Seeing the information displayed on the electronic screen, some members of the audience immediately grew excited:
"Vast and Mighty! That’s the team from Shanda University Affiliated School!"
"Chen Xinghao! Mommy loves you!"
"Your Brother Kun is the man!"
"Hey Xiaohanzi, your tree branch is 666. You gonna eat that artificially-flavored pan-fried fish?"
"Whoa, whoa, we get to see the strongest team in the first round! We’re in for a treat~"
"That’s not necessarily a good thing. If you watch the strongest team first, the other teams’ matches will definitely feel a bit boring afterward."
"Mmm, that’s true... Oh well! Let’s just get our fill all at once!"
"What city is Shanda University Affiliated’s opponent from? That team name is killing me."
"No idea. They’re probably not famous. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be messing around with their team name like that..."
...
Listening to the audience’s fervent discussion outside, Chen Xinghao, in the competitor prep room, couldn’t help but lift his chin, an unconcealed look of pride on his face.
And he indeed had every right to look that way. No matter who the opponent was, you had to wear an air of unstoppable momentum on your face—that was one of the most important aspects of a team tournament.
"Shanda University Affiliated! Prepare to enter the arena!" Chen Xinghao clenched his fist.
"Before us, there are no enemies!"
"Euler!" came the response from the rest of the Shanda University Affiliated team.
The other teams in the prep room were so intimidated they didn’t dare make a peep. After all, when facing an opponent like Shanda University Affiliated, even the strongest teams would feel a sense of powerlessness and suffocation.
With the exception of Huai City First Middle School.
They were even in the mood to play a tabletop game...
"Something from Nothing!"
Liu Yuhang’s excited cry echoed through the room.
He immediately froze, then shrank his neck back in embarrassment.
Chen Xinghao: "..."
The members of Shanda University Affiliated: "..."
Cao Mingyu’s eyes burned with intensity as he patted Liu Yuhang’s shoulder.
"Brother Yuhang, do not hesitate! Nor should you feel regret! Follow your heart! Shout when you want to shout, even if the timing is inappropriate! This—is youth!!"
"Is that so... I am enlightened! Thank you, Brother Mingyu!"
And so, with tears welling in his eyes, Liu Yuhang threw down the last card in his hand with an even louder voice:
"Unassailable!!!"
Katie stared at him for a moment, then suddenly covered her mouth and burst out laughing, looking exceptionally delighted.
Liu Yuhang blushed a little, his heart in a flutter.
Fang Yuan couldn’t help but ask, "So you just used ’Unassailable’ on your own ’Something from Nothing’?"
"..."
"..."
"Fuck!"
After a moment of silence, Liu Yuhang’s regretful cry echoed through the competitor prep room.
The other teams in the room saw this happen and burst out laughing, and the tense pre-match atmosphere dissipated considerably.
The members of Shanda University Affiliated, who were about to go on, did not laugh. Chen Xinghao shot Su Zhi a complicated glare, then led his team out for their match.
Su Zhi, hands in his pockets, continued to play cards with an innocent look on his face.
After all, what bad intentions could Su Baby possibly have?
"Su Baby has so many bad intentions!"
After the Shanda University Affiliated team had left, Shao Ya couldn’t help but smile, giving Su Zhi a light flick on the forehead. "They’re having a pep talk before their match, and you? You’re playing cards."
"We already had our pep talk, so why can’t we play cards?"
Su Zhi chuckled. "The more important the match, the less you should wind yourself up. Besides, playing cards is a strategy game too, you know? It’s a good way to train your mind~"
"Oh, right, right," Shao Ya shot him a mischievous glance. "I’m suuure Su Baby wasn’t trying to mess with Shanda University Affiliated’s morale."
"Maybe just a little bit?"
"You’re terrible! Hahahaha~"
"Oh, right."
Fang Yuan played an "Attack" card, eliminating his teammate Liu Yuhang. He tearfully drew three cards, then asked, "Shouldn’t we really be observing Shanda University Affiliated’s tactical setup or something?"