Chapter 0134: Ningchang University’s Answer

Wan Siqi kept Ye Chaoying boxed out of the core area, while Qiao Xin single-covered Xia Chiyi. Du He and Shuai Bei were both drawn away by Zhu Cong’s fake layup, and the ball was kicked back out to small forward Zhao Ying. He worked together with power forward Bai Dan in a switch-defense setup, and Bai Dan locked Zhou Zhexiao in place.

Zhou Zhexiao tried to circle around Bai Dan, but although Bai Dan had his back to him, he kept using staggered footwork to block Zhou Zhexiao’s path. That tiny delay was enough—Zhao Ying drove into the lane and finished with a clean dunk.

Even the livestream audience had to spam a wave of: [Qicheng Commerce 666!]

Zhao Ying clenched his fist and roared toward his captain.

The captain was right. As long as he dared to fight, his teammates would cover for him.

Xia Chiyi let out a breath and muttered, “I feel like the villain in one of those inspirational sports movies, the kind who’s only there to help the protagonist grow.”

Ye Chaoying slapped the ball lightly. “Stop flattering yourself. The way we’re playing right now, we’re still not enough to help them grow. If we’re gonna be villains, we need to bring something fierce.”

“Sure,” Xia Chiyi said, rolling his wrist. “You add the fuel, and we’ll bring the fireworks.”

In the next second, Ye Chaoying charged forward with the ball. A behind-the-back dribble that looked like he was drawing a violin bow behind himself, then a quick half-spin fake, and he blew past Wan Siqi’s defense. Even when Qiao Xin came over to help, he could only feel Ye Chaoying slipping smoothly past his side.

[He still doesn’t lose the ball doing that? That’s insane!]

[That’s the rhythm dribble penetration is supposed to have—so the defender can’t catch you even if he wants to!]

[My eyes didn’t even catch up and he’s already past?]

After splitting two defenders, Ye Chaoying faced Zhao Ying and feinted as if he were going around the left side. Zhao Ying stretched out his arm, lowered his center of gravity, and slid over to defend.

Tsk. Fast reaction.

Ye Chaoying faked the shot and passed instead, sending the ball to Zhou Zhexiao.

Wan Siqi and Qiao Xin instantly closed in from two angles on Zhou Zhexiao. Zhou Zhexiao was just about to use a rocking step to reverse his drive when Wan Siqi stabbed one foot between Zhou Zhexiao’s legs with a probing step, disrupting his rhythm. Zhao Ying turned and charged at Zhou Zhexiao too. In another moment, it would be a three-sided siege.

Since the purpose of drawing the defense had already been achieved, Zhou Zhexiao looked as though he was about to change directions and burst through the gap between Wan Siqi and Zhao Ying. The lines of his shoulders, back, and arms stretched with power—then he suddenly pulled back and passed to Xia Chiyi on the side.

Bai Dan, who had been guarding the basket, rushed out desperately to stop Xia Chiyi’s shot.

Xia Chiyi made a nimble side step. Before Bai Dan’s first huge stride had even landed, Xia Chiyi had already released.

Quick as the wind, without the slightest pause or hesitation, the ball slipped through the net.

In the stands, Pang Shuai got so excited he nearly flung his DSLR into the air, while the other alumni whipped their banners until they rattled loudly.

[He shot! He shot! Xia Chiyi’s three-pointer is basically the “sword come!” move from xianxia novels—whenever he wants it, it’s there. Instant kill!]

[Every time I watch this guy shoot, I feel like an idiot. All I can do is crane my neck and go “so fast!”]

[Didn’t Qicheng Commerce study the Southeast Division at all? They need to assign someone specifically to guard Xia Chiyi!]

“Looks like your touch is really there today,” Ye Chaoying said.

But Xia Chiyi felt no joy at making the shot. “Don’t you guys think every single basket we get feels ridiculously hard?”

Ye Chaoying scratched his hair. “Yeah. I have to shake myself sick before I can even pass the ball out. At this rate, Old Ling might sub me out.”

As he backpedaled into position on defense, Xia Chiyi said, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you—be careful of Wan Siqi’s drag step.”

“You’re saying that like nobody else knows a drag step. What’s next, is it gonna be rarer than someone handstanding and eating shit?”

On the very next possession, Ye Chaoying got slapped hard in the face by reality.

Wan Siqi’s rocking drag step was no ordinary drag step. He dribbled diagonally into Ningchang University’s territory. Ye Chaoying started his defense quickly, and together with Xia Chiyi, they forced Wan Siqi toward the sideline.

Xia Chiyi had already mentally prepared to steal a pass to Zhao Ying.

But Wan Siqi suddenly hit a reverse between-the-legs drag step, huge and sweeping. The aura of it was like compressing the whole space and then exploding it outward. By the time Ye Chaoying tried to turn, he was already late. Wan Siqi burst past his hip, and there was no way to strip the ball.

But even after getting through Ye Chaoying, he still had to face Zhou Zhexiao.

That feeling was like towering mountains pressing down on him. Wan Siqi knew he couldn’t be afraid, so he used another reverse drag step. But Zhou Zhexiao’s defensive follow-up was too fast—his center of gravity didn’t even sway. Wan Siqi could only gather the ball low, avoiding Zhou Zhexiao’s steal, practically sliding against the floor before he could dish it out to Zhao Ying.

Zhao Ying took the ball and charged forward like a madman. He roared silently to himself as he stormed into the paint at blinding speed. Du He moved his feet and sealed off Zhao Ying’s layup angle. Zhao Ying desperately calculated Shuai Bei’s next move. No matter whether he used a hook or a floater, it felt like he’d be blocked.

And Zhou Zhexiao was already behind him.

He didn’t even have the chance to pull the dribble back and create space.

“Here!” Zhu Cong’s voice rang out.

Like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline, Zhao Ying threaded the ball out from between three defenders.

Zhu Cong caught it. Shuai Bei had already turned around, and Xia Chiyi had sprinted in front of him too. Holding the ball, Zhu Cong took two hopping steps. The first got him around Shuai Bei. The second landed with perfect precision. He instantly spun off the dribble, and just as it looked like he was about to beat Xia Chiyi too—

Smack!

To the gasps of the crowd and commentators alike, Zhou Zhexiao knocked the ball away with stunning accuracy and speed.

A godlike read.

But Bai Dan rushed in and caught the loose ball. Without another word, he pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

It went in.

The audience applauded.

The commentator couldn’t hide his admiration. “That entire sequence from Qicheng Commerce was absolutely heart-stopping, practically surviving death! Against Ningchang University’s rapid-response defense, they fought for life in the cracks. They gave up on nothing, on no possession, no matter how desperate it looked. What seemed like a dying struggle actually became points through sheer tenacity!”

Xia Chiyi stood there with his hands on his hips and exhaled, eyes closed and lips pursed as he replayed every cut and movement in his head.

Then Ye Chaoying suddenly slapped his own face several times, so hard that even Xia Chiyi was stunned.

[What the hell happened? Because Wan Siqi beat him?]

[This guy is brutal to himself. His face is already red!]

[This was Ye Chaoying’s fault to begin with, right? Wan Siqi got through from his side on the first move!]

“Hey…”

Ye Chaoying’s gaze turned calm and heavy as he looked toward Wan Siqi. “I take back what I said before. Wan Siqi’s drag step really is something special.”

“Alright,” Xia Chiyi said. “Since you’ve already slapped yourself in the face, I won’t make you do a handstand and eat shit.”

After two seconds of silence, Xia Chiyi added, “Actually, I was wrong too. I could’ve faked a shift in my center of gravity and let him come through between us. That would’ve made it easier to defend.”

“Is that what you were thinking about just now?”

“Yeah. Let’s try it next time.”

Zhou Zhexiao lowered his arms and walked over to Xia Chiyi. “Last night, that exam thing you mentioned. If every subject gets 100, what’s the full score?”

The night before, Xia Chiyi had compared Qicheng Commerce’s individual ability to a good student who scored an even 100 in every subject.

“The full score is obviously 150.”

“Wan Siqi’s drag-step breakthrough, Zhu Cong’s double-hop layup—I think those are worth 110.”

If even Zhou Zhexiao gave them that kind of approval, then their actual strength was no joke.

In the divisionals, their excellent cutting and passing had made their individual skills look less dazzling. But the level they had just displayed in a crisis could not be underestimated.

Xia Chiyi glanced up at the scoreboard. “Eighteen seconds left in the first quarter, brothers. Let’s do one more wave.”

“Mm.” Ye Chaoying took the ball and lowered his eyes, inhaling deeply.

He had thought that after training defense for so long under Jiao Yingfeng, he had definitely improved. But he hadn’t expected his very first national tournament opponent to be Qicheng Commerce, whose defensive level was even higher.

He had only trained one or two weeks.

Qicheng Commerce had built this chemistry over three years.

If their coordination couldn’t hit full marks, then they’d make up the difference with pure technique.

Ye Chaoying drove the ball into enemy territory. When it came to beating defenders, he had signature footwork of his own.

Like a meteor hammer smashing to earth, he tore coldly through the gap between Wan Siqi and Qiao Xin. This was pure dribble speed, so fast the air seemed ready to ignite. The spectators craned their necks, not even having time to gasp before he seemed ready to go all the way himself. Entering the paint, he met Zhao Ying’s defense and instantly used a push-dribble hip-turn move to beat him in one motion. Zhao Ying didn’t even have time to get his feet going before he was绕过去—left behind.

“Ye Chaoying charges alone into the paint—”

Bai Dan rushed out to meet him head-on. Ye Chaoying faked the shot and passed to Xia Chiyi beside him.

But Wan Siqi had already slid over laterally and arrived right in front of Xia Chiyi.

Their fear of this elite shooter dragged the entire Qicheng Commerce defense inward. Even Zhu Cong, who should have stayed under the basket, had rushed out too. They formed a towering human wall in front of Xia Chiyi.

Expressionless, Xia Chiyi whipped the ball away. Zhou Zhexiao caught it, and the entire audience tensed in anticipation.

After receiving the pass, Zhou Zhexiao dribbled behind his back to avoid Qiao Xin’s steal attempt, then hop-stepped to the right, eyes fixed on the rim, both hands bringing the ball up to chest level.

He’s going to shoot!

Wan Siqi and Bai Dan rushed him together, instinctively raising their arms to contest.

But it was a fake.

With a smooth spin to the left, Zhou Zhexiao glided in for an easy layup.

“That’s NBA star Jamal Crawford’s signature move—the hop-step spin layup! Zhou Zhexiao is using it to perfection, with incredible rhythm!”

Wan Siqi and Bai Dan were completely dumbfounded.

[As expected of Zhou Zhexiao—he faked both defenders into the air!]

[Don’t let the serious face fool you, he’s actually Ningchang University’s number one scam artist!]

[When Zhou Zhexiao starts using fakes, even Xia Chiyi has to call him daddy!]

…

For Zhou Zhexiao, this was just routine. He didn’t show the slightest smile from the audience applause or the commentator’s praise.

Instead, Xia Chiyi kept moving on the court, as if replaying Zhou Zhexiao’s hop-step spin layup in his head.

“That’s incredible…” Wan Siqi lifted his jersey collar and wiped his sweat.

Watching Zhou Zhexiao’s back, Zhao Ying, who also played small forward, said, “You’d never get to see this kind of technique and rhythm in the divisionals.”

Zhou Zhexiao stretched out one arm, palmed Xia Chiyi’s head, and guided him back toward the bench area.

The first quarter ended at 18-16, with Ningchang University temporarily leading by two.

When Xia Chiyi and the others returned to Ling Huanzhen, Cheng Qing and He Bin hurriedly handed them towels and water.

Even though they had delivered plenty of brilliant plays, Ling Huanzhen stood there with his arms folded, brows tightly knitted.

“Coach Chen from Qicheng Commerce was being way too modest. Based on how you all played, I seriously don’t even know who I should sub out next quarter. Honestly, I’d like to replace all of you, but unfortunately our bench isn’t deep enough.”

Ye Chaoying awkwardly rubbed the tip of his nose.

Du He and Shuai Bei said nothing. They were extremely good at boxing out in the paint and grabbing rebounds, but those strengths hadn’t had the chance to show. They kept getting lured out of the paint by Qicheng Commerce’s fakes, and then had their routes back on defense cut off, leaving the basket exposed again and again.

Xia Chiyi glanced at Zhou Zhexiao. The connection between him and Zhou Zhexiao had also been limited. Clearly, Qicheng Commerce had done their homework thoroughly—so thoroughly that even Ningchang University’s most dangerous inside-outside combo had been restricted.

“What, the other side studied you inside out, and you didn’t study them back?”

Xia Chiyi thought for a moment, then spoke up. “I think…”

“What do you think? Spit it out!” Ling Huanzhen lifted his chin.

“Fight fire with fire. Let’s see who can use trapping defense and pick-and-roll coverage more ruthlessly. I took a look—Qicheng Commerce’s trapping doesn’t just rely on lateral movement restriction, it also uses vertical coverage. During our traps, in order to increase defensive range, Ye Chaoying should be switching with Zhou Zhexiao at any time.”

A relieved smile spread across Ling Huanzhen’s face. That meant Xia Chiyi had been observing and thinking the entire time.

“Good. Listen up now. Starting from the second quarter, I want both the offensive and defensive inside-outside triangles fully established. Pay attention to support coordination and drive-and-kick combinations!”

The referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the second quarter.

In the stands, Pang Shuai held up his DSLR. The rows behind him and to his right were all filled with Qicheng University’s family supporters, making him feel like a lone soldier behind enemy lines.

“Ningchang University isn’t as amazing as we thought. Feels like Wan Siqi and the others actually have a chance to win!”

Hearing that made Pang Shuai unhappy. He turned around and realized it was that elderly grandpa in his sixties or seventies, so he forced himself not to say anything.

Fortunately, the grandpa’s son understood basketball and began explaining.

“We still can’t be blindly optimistic. Look at that shooting guard of theirs—his release is so fast! He can score the moment he touches the ball, so we had to work like crazy just to lock down all the people who could pass to him!”

“Oh, oh, so that’s how it is.”

The old man nodded, though Pang Shuai wasn’t entirely convinced he truly understood.

“And that handsome small forward, Zhou Zhexiao—once he gets the ball, nobody can stop him. So Coach Chen has Zhao Ying and Zhu Cong limiting him together, always as a pair. As soon as Zhao Ying wants to break through, Zhu Cong moves up to create an opportunity. Zhu Cong alone still isn’t enough to contain him, so even Bai Dan has to act as the final checkpoint along the pursuit route. Every point we score comes from a chain of tightly linked moves.”

After hearing his son explain it, the old man started to worry. “If so many people are busy stopping that Zhou Zhexiao, then if the other Ningchang players want to score… wouldn’t no one be able to stop them?”

“Exactly. That’s why Ningchang University is really scary! In the next quarter, they might already have a counter-strategy.”

Hearing that, Pang Shuai finally felt much better.

Still, he really wanted to know how Xia Chiyi and the others were going to strike back in the next quarter.

The referee blew the whistle again to begin play.

Zhu Cong prepared to inbound high, and Wan Siqi’s position was also very close to the frontcourt.

Ye Chaoying lowered his center of gravity and got ready on defense. Once Wan Siqi caught the ball, the fast break could explode instantly. Wan Siqi’s dribbling speed was too fast—if they lost sight of him for even a moment and he got to the basket, things would get ugly.

Who knew Wan Siqi standing there in the frontcourt was just a decoy?

The real receiver was their small forward, Zhao Ying.

He dribbled at blazing speed, slashing diagonally into Ningchang University’s half. Bai Dan and Qiao Xin followed on either side. This offensive triangle was seriously dangerous—far away, it could become a pass to Qiao Xin for a three, and close in, it could turn into a joint cut to the rim with Bai Dan.

“How will Ningchang University respond? Zhao Ying is about to split the zone—”

As the commentator cried out, Ye Chaoying was already chasing Zhao Ying from behind. Zhao Ying spun hard off one dribble and got around him, only to immediately run straight into Xia Chiyi’s defense.

Xia Chiyi slid right into Zhao Ying’s path and forced the drive to stop.

Ye Chaoying arrived a beat later, forming a trapping angle together with Xia Chiyi. Zhao Ying made a snap decision and passed to Bai Dan.

Bai Dan had only just received the ball when Zhou Zhexiao appeared at his side, right in his blind spot. With the slightest lift of his fingers, he stripped the ball cleanly away.

What happened? Wasn’t Zhou Zhexiao supposed to be screened by Zhu Cong?

Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Dan caught sight of Zhu Cong being pinned firmly outside the paint by Shuai Bei’s back, with no chance to rotate over on the switch.

One broken link, total collapse.

Now Zhou Zhexiao was dribbling straight through half court, swift as lightning.

Each bounce of the ball echoed through the arena like a hammer strike, making eardrums tremble.

Seeing this, the audience let out a collective “Whoa—!”

The commentator rattled out the call at breakneck speed. “Zhou Zhexiao cuts straight into the opponent’s paint—too fast! The defense hasn’t recovered yet! Qicheng Commerce is empty under the basket, and Zhou Zhexiao scores on the floater!”

Only then did Wan Siqi barely arrive.

Eyes wide, he stared at Zhou Zhexiao’s back, but what filled his mind was the coordination Ningchang had just shown.

Shuai Bei had accurately identified the final link in their rotation defense and deadlocked Zhu Cong in place, restoring Ningchang University’s mobility.

At that moment, Zhu Cong looked guilty. Bai Dan patted him on the back and murmured, “Don’t overthink it.”

But that one sequence also helped Ningchang University quickly recover their rhythm—and more importantly, find the method to crack Qicheng Commerce.

On the next possession, Wan Siqi brought the ball over half court. Even when he charged straight at Ye Chaoying, he didn’t slow down. Ye Chaoying was fully prepared, expecting Wan Siqi to change direction right in front of him.

After all, the person Ye Chaoying practiced against every day was Xia Chiyi.

When you’ve already defended a once-in-a-generation direction-change master, defending someone like Wan Siqi becomes more about the brain commanding the body’s instincts.

If you dare use that drag step again, I’ll stop you for sure.

At one step away from Ye Chaoying, Wan Siqi stopped short and hit a smooth Shamgod shoulder fake, pushing wide and pulling back hard to get by on Ye Chaoying’s opposite side.

But the instant they brushed past each other, Wan Siqi caught the upward curl of Ye Chaoying’s lips.

Why?

The answer came in the form of Xia Chiyi’s steal.

The commentator applauded. “So Ye Chaoying had already predicted Wan Siqi’s change of direction! Trying to avoid Ye Chaoying, Wan Siqi actually ran straight into Xia Chiyi’s help defense!”

From the steal to his acceleration, Xia Chiyi needed less than half a second. By the time Wan Siqi turned around, Xia Chiyi was already three or four strides away.

The livestream comments exploded instantly:

[Xia Chiyi doesn’t even need a buffer when he turns and accelerates?]

[Those ankles are basically divine!]

[It feels like folded space-time, instantly flipping front and back!]

…

Zhao Ying and Qiao Xin were already chasing from both flanks, closing the distance rapidly.

The commentator clenched his fist. “Xia Chiyi is about to reach the three-point line! He stops short!”

The crowd stretched their necks, waiting for Xia Chiyi’s pull-up jumper.

Zhao Ying had no time to get around to his side, so he jumped directly from behind, trying to block him.

But Xia Chiyi gently tossed the ball backward.

The receiver was Shuai Bei.

“Come on!” Xia Chiyi shouted.

Standing at the three-point line, Shuai Bei felt his heart stirred by that bright, ringing shout. The shooting arc formed in his head instinctively.

He had watched Xia Chiyi shoot countless times. After the training game against Connecticut, Xia Chiyi had deliberately practiced long-range shooting with him from farther out.

And this angle—this was the spot where his percentage was highest.

Shuai Bei released the shot.

Bai Dan and Zhu Cong charged toward the basket, ready for the rebound.

Du He spread both arms wide and muscled them outward.

Zhou Zhexiao was already flying toward the rim, prepared for a putback dunk.

But the shot went in.

Shuai Bei froze where he stood, staring at the basket for a long time.

On the sideline, Ling Huanzhen blanked out at first. Then he heard Cheng Qing and the other players cheering around him and snapped awake like from a dream.

“Holy hell… Shuai Bei actually hit a three?”

He started clapping slowly, then kept clapping until his palms turned red and still couldn’t stop.

He, Ling Huanzhen—the black hole of long-range shooting—had a disciple who hit a three in a real game?

Shuai Bei turned sideways to look at Xia Chiyi.

Xia Chiyi gave him a thumbs-up.

For Qicheng Commerce, that shot was a psychological body blow.

Shuai Bei had never attempted a three-pointer in an official game before.

But just now… not only had he taken it, he had made it.

That was completely outside their expectations.

It meant their switching defense and full-court rotations now had to account for Shuai Bei’s ability to shoot from distance too.

The commentator was beside himself with excitement. “This is why they are kings of the Southeast Division. They understand that if you don’t keep climbing, you get overtaken. When their opponents think they’ve already fully figured out yesterday’s Ningchang University, today’s Ningchang has already reached a new height!”

The Kulang livestream audience went completely wild.

[Holy crap, Shuai Bei can shoot threes?]

[With his height, if he stands at the three-point line, nobody can even contest that!]

[Ningchang University just dropped a nuclear bomb!]

[I’d bet my entire life this was definitely not taught by Ling Huanzhen!]

[+1]

[+10086]

[+my ID number!]

Shuai Bei silently backed into the paint again. He knew perfectly well that shot had been a coincidence of mood and positioning.

If you gave him another chance, he might not do it that well again.

But… for the first time, he felt that there was still much more room for him to grow.

For the clubs that had previously been considering Shuai Bei, that made this three-pointer an extra bonus question on the exam.

As the score gap widened, Qicheng Commerce used rapid passing to split apart Ningchang University’s zone, and Zhao Ying plus Qiao Xin combined from inside and out to pull back the score with three straight baskets.

Xia Chiyi lifted his jersey collar to wipe the sweat from his chin and thought to himself that Qiao Xin really was a steady shooter.

Just… a little too steady.

But on the court, no shot comes without risk.

Xia Chiyi instinctively glanced at Zhou Zhexiao, wondering whether he had noticed the flaw in Qiao Xin’s game.

Zhou Zhexiao felt his gaze and tipped his chin in Qiao Xin’s direction.

Oh-ho. So Zhou Zhexiao had noticed too.

And on the sideline, Ling Huanzhen—who had been standing with arms crossed—also gestured with his finger for Xia Chiyi to single-cover Qiao Xin.

When Qiao Xin caught the ball near the three-point line, Xia Chiyi immediately got in front of him, continuously probing with his feet and reaching out to disrupt Qiao Xin’s shooting path. Qiao Xin rocked left and right, then stepped back, and Xia Chiyi followed instantly.

Honestly, if Xia Chiyi had been Qiao Xin, he would have known there was room for a double step-back under that kind of pressure.

But Qiao Xin seemed to lack confidence in his own separation move and passed to Zhao Ying, who had come over for support.

Only Zhao Ying never got the ball.

Zhou Zhexiao stole it before it even arrived.

His fast break moved like thunder sweeping across the court, and he finished with a hammering dunk.

That defensive coordination finally brought a trace of relief to Ling Huanzhen’s expression on the sideline.

Cheng Qing saw it too. “We’re playing better and better! Our defensive reactions are faster now, and individual technique is finally opening up too.”

Hearing the sound of that dunk, Qiao Xin swallowed hard.

“Hey.” Xia Chiyi had wanted to hold it in, but as a shooter, not saying it made him feel suffocated.

“Ah?” Qiao Xin looked at him.

“You already created step-back space just now. Why didn’t you shoot?”

“But… you were right in front of me…”

Xia Chiyi let out a breath. Seeing the referee about to look their way, he swallowed the rest of his words and hurried back on defense.

“I’m only 1.88 meters, not 2.18!”

Watching Xia Chiyi’s back, Qiao Xin replayed his own step-back in his mind.

It was true.

If Xia Chiyi had been in his place, he would already have taken the shot.

But what if he missed?

Wouldn’t it be safer to give the ball to Zhao Ying first, create some distance from Xia Chiyi, and then have Zhao Ying pass it back?

No.

That wasn’t safe at all.

Both Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao had seen through that idea immediately.

If he had simply taken the shot and missed, they still would have had a chance through the rebound.

His own cowardice had cost him that possession.

Another fast break came. Zhao Ying was just about to slash into the lane when Zhou Zhexiao’s defense forced him toward the sideline. Left with no choice, he passed to Qiao Xin.

The moment Qiao Xin caught it, Xia Chiyi was on him again.

Xia Chiyi’s defense clung like a shadow. No matter how many jab steps Qiao Xin used, he couldn’t shake Xia Chiyi’s center of gravity.

Should he force the shot?

Qiao Xin searched for teammates with the corner of his eye. Great—his captain was there.

But in the next second, Wan Siqi was completely locked up by Ye Chaoying. Ye Chaoying’s long-short arm defense cut off the passing angle entirely.

“What are you hesitating for? Shoot!” Wan Siqi shouted at him.

By now Zhu Cong and Bai Dan had already reached the basket and were fighting Du He and Shuai Bei for position. A rebounding war was seconds away.

An arrow already on the string had to be fired.

Qiao Xin gritted his teeth, made a huge step-back, and just as he dropped the ball for his gather, Xia Chiyi took one step forward, perfectly reading the gather, lifted up, and carried the ball away.

Qiao Xin only felt the ball vanish from between his hands, along with Wan Siqi’s shout of “Get back on defense—!”

Xia Chiyi took off with the ball. Just as it looked like he was about to be enclosed by three tall defenders from front and back, he looked toward Zhou Zhexiao—

and passed instead to Ye Chaoying on the other side.

Ye Chaoying went straight to the rim and finished with an ordinary layup.

In the stands, Pang Shuai nearly smashed his DSLR against the railing. “Oh! Oh! Ye Chaoying scored! Ye Chaoying scored!”

He was surrounded by Qicheng Commerce’s friends and family, all of whom looked at him like he was a traitor.

Ye Chaoying rubbed the tip of his nose. Catching sight of Pang Shuai’s excitement, he thought to himself: It’s not like Columbus just discovered the New World. What’s there to get that excited about?

“It’s normal for point guards to score!”

As Xia Chiyi passed by, he laughed. “For you, it’s rarer than winning the lottery!”

That basket shook Qiao Xin’s confidence again. Even after creating a step-back, he still couldn’t keep Xia Chiyi from stripping the ball.

Xia Chiyi noticed his frustration. “Creating space for a three doesn’t only mean step-backs.”

The commentator also began breaking down Ningchang University’s defense. “Compared to their performance in the Southeast Division, Ningchang University’s defense has improved very noticeably. Especially when executing a 2-3 zone, their two guards, Xia Chiyi and Ye Chaoying, have gone from simply reacting quickly to operating with what feels like a shared brain. They’re getting more and more locked in. Add in Zhou Zhexiao’s ability to help at any time and you get two layers of checkpoints, which has been very effective in limiting the opponent’s mid-range offense. A 2-3 zone does have weaknesses, such as leaving gaps around the free-throw line or the baseline, but unfortunately for Qicheng Commerce, their players have kept trying to get to the baseline and still haven’t managed it.”

On the next possession, Zhao Ying caught Wan Siqi’s pass and drove into the lane. Facing the double blockade of Du He and Shuai Bei, he gritted his teeth and decided to gamble big—going for a low-handed double-clutch layup on Du He’s side.

Du He’s hand came down and missed completely.

Just as Zhao Ying exhaled in relief, thinking he’d managed to send the ball into the hoop—

Zhou Zhexiao rose up powerfully and smothered it.

“Whoa—!”

The whole arena gasped in one voice.

When Zhao Ying landed, he almost lost his footing. The referee’s whistle was already at his lips, but no foul was called.

Ye Chaoying received the outlet pass and charged straight into enemy territory, with Xia Chiyi, Shuai Bei, and Du He storming alongside him like a flood breaking its banks.

Near the three-point line, Ye Chaoying jumped to avoid Wan Siqi’s steal attempt and, before landing, passed to Xia Chiyi.

That agile, rhythm-filled pass tugged at the audience’s nerves.

The commentator continued, “Qiao Xin is fully focused on defending Xia Chiyi. He’s using every bit of body contact and every possible steal attempt. He wants to make sure Xia Chiyi gets no chance at a step-back or side-step.”

But Xia Chiyi drove decisively off the dribble. While battling Qiao Xin, he bounced the ball on the same side foot and came to an abrupt stop. His trailing foot suddenly stepped forward to jam Qiao Xin’s movement space, then he hit a quick step-back. Qiao Xin had no chance to recover in time, and Xia Chiyi knocked down the shot.

The audience was stunned.

What kind of god-level dribbling move was that?

“How did he do that just now? The referee didn’t blow the whistle… so it wasn’t a double dribble…”

“I didn’t see it clearly… maybe even the ref wasn’t sure if it was a carry or double dribble?”

The basketball fans in the livestream quickly supplied the answer.

[No double dribble because he moved the trailing foot forward during the live dribble.]

[This is a common NBA move, an in-and-out variation. Xia Chiyi just used an even subtler dribble placement.]

[With nerves like that and so many ways to create shooting space, he’s impossible to guard.]

Qiao Xin’s confidence was now fully collapsing.

Why did the First-Tier League have someone with a release this fast?

Xia Chiyi was already retreating on defense again. While backpedaling, he crooked his finger at Qiao Xin.

Looking into Xia Chiyi’s clear, earnest eyes, Qiao Xin instantly understood that Xia Chiyi wasn’t provoking him.

He was telling him to be braver—to shoot when it was time to shoot.

The pace of the game kept accelerating, and possession changed hands again and again.

Ye Chaoying and Xia Chiyi trapped Wan Siqi once more. Whether it was illusion or not, Wan Siqi felt his operating space had become much narrower than in the first quarter. Under the pressure of those two closing in together, he kept dodging and weaving—until he realized he had been forced all the way to the sideline.

The on-court possession countdown began.

Wan Siqi threw a fake, trying to shake loose a gap and force his way through.

But the moment his shoulder got past, he ran into Zhou Zhexiao head-on.

Zhou Zhexiao cleanly cut the ball away.

Yet when he turned, he immediately faced a three-sided collapse from Zhao Ying, Bai Dan, and Zhu Cong.

The commentator shouted, “Qicheng Commerce closes the pocket incredibly fast! Zhou Zhexiao passes to Xia Chiyi! Xia Chiyi is under double pressure from Qiao Xin and Wan Siqi again—the trap is tight, there’s no shooting angle! The ball goes back to Zhou Zhexiao again!”

The audience was on edge. Pang Shuai, holding his camera, had sweaty palms.

Qicheng Commerce’s “tightening the bag” speed was just too fast.

“Zhou Zhexiao sends it back to Xia Chiyi again—unbelievable! He just shook off Qiao Xin and Wan Siqi, but Zhu Cong and Bai Dan are already there to seal him off!”

The second quarter entered countdown time. On the sideline, Coach Chen of Qicheng Commerce folded his arms tight and muttered, “Hold them! Hold them no matter what! We absolutely cannot let the gap go above fifteen!”

“Xia Chiyi dribbles to create distance. Zhou Zhexiao slices in cleanly and screens off Zhu Cong! Xia Chiyi uses a fake to beat Bai Dan—he shoots!”

That possession had twisted through obstacle after obstacle, but just before the buzzer sounded, the ball pierced the rim.

Xia Chiyi succeeded in stretching the score difference between the two teams to fifteen points.