Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 25 The Wind Rises (Part )

Lake Tay High School.

In the open-air stadium, the surrounding lamp posts faithfully emit high-wattage light, dyeing the night snow-white.

The teenagers are training together.

One group practiced various footwork on ladders, another repeated leaps between hurdles and boxes, and the last group did basic dribbling drills, each with a young boy beating them with a soft stick, trying to disrupt them.

Whenever one group finished, it would be another group's turn. Three groups of more than 20 teenagers were sweating profusely under the incandescent light.

Cui Xundong had a stern face and walked back and forth between the three groups with an assistant, constantly correcting the technical movements of a certain teenager. His pronunciation had a foreign accent. As a Korean who had lived in Shandong for ten years, he still could not change his tongue to adapt to the pronunciation of Mandarin.

What also cannot be changed is his understanding of basketball.

The style of Korean basketball is almost the same across the country, it's all small, fast and accurate.

The first thing is to be fast, fast offense and defense, fast defense, fast shooting, fast passing, fast fast break, fast double-teaming, any tactics must have the word "fast" added in front.

Then comes accuracy. Passing must be accurate, shooting must be accurate, targeting must be accurate, and defending must be accurate. Simply put, tactical obedience must be particularly in place and preparations must be in place in advance.

The final small size is not possible. Compared with Chinese players, Korean players are not tall enough. But here, he can teach according to their aptitude. In Shandong, there is no shortage of tall players. Cui Xundong feels that he is lucky to be able to display his basketball talent in China.

Cui Xundong looked at this group of young people and felt that it was time to show their strength.

After three years of intensive basic training, this senior class has been able to support the framework of his tactical system. This year's Taihu will surprise everyone. This is an indisputable fact.

A group of teenagers with a height of 190-200cm, with an average height of 195cm. They come from all corners of the country and work hard to enter the youth training team.

Under his reinforcement, everyone has a basket, and all mid-range shots can achieve a 70% hit rate, plus short and fast pass-cut coordination and all-out attack and defense tactical accomplishment. Such a team is no worse than Shandong Youth Training Team, and this is Cui Xundong's capital to stand out from the crowd.

Not only Nanyang, but the entire Shandong high school community will be dominated by Taihu, starting this year!
What's funny is that Lake Tai is still seen as a traditional strong team rather than a super team. Choi Xundong is looking forward to seeing everyone's expressions when Lake Tai sweeps them.

In ten days, the terrifying Lake Tai will crush the earth like Mount Tai.

The sweetness in his heart made the rigid coach smile a little, but the young boy who was busy training had no chance to see it. This might be the first time that the coach smiled in the past three years.

Not far away, an old man with two teenagers were watching calmly.

"Coach, why did you bring us here?" asked a round-headed, big-eared boy.

"Yeah, old man, why did you make us come to Nanyang to study? It's not fun here at all. There is no Starbucks, no subway, no big shopping mall. The school only has one cafeteria, and we can only go out once a week. Hey, old man, you really make it hard for me!" Another burly teenager complained with a bitter face.

The old man didn't react. His eyes were still fixed on the training ground in the distance. He nodded frequently, and then, as if he was slow to react, he uttered a sound, as if remembering what the boy had said, "Why, you want to run?"

"Run?" The two teenagers had sad faces. Where could they run to? Their files were all in the youth team. Without a few million, who would let them go...?
"Taihu is very strong. You two should be content. This time it's not because Wang Baodong applied and begged for your transfer, but because the high school league in this city is really interesting. You have been training with the team for almost a month. Haven't you discovered anything?" The old man looked at the two of them with a smile.

Su Quan, born in 201, started learning basketball at the age of 7, joined the Ruijin Basketball Camp at the age of 10, was discovered at the age of 12 and joined the Qingdao Children's Youth Training Team. At the age of 16, he was promoted to the Qingdao Youth Team. His bone age is predicted to be 210. He has delicate skills and can play at positions 3 and 4. He is a very good seedling.

Guo Tianzhen, 194cm tall, comes from a basketball family. His parents were both former first-line players of Shandong team. He started formal basketball training at the age of 5 and has been in Shandong team ever since. Last year, when he was 15 years old, he was transferred to Qingdao due to connections. He plays as a scorer. Don’t be fooled by his baby face. He has explosive physical fitness. His bone age is predicted to be 201. He is a potential top 2 or 3 seedling. There are more than people in the team, but only four or five seedlings. He brought two of them to Nanyang, and the intention was naturally very deep.

Guo Tianzhen was truly adorable, his big eyes blinking and his eyelashes making girls jealous. He said, "Coach, there are only a few really good players in Taihu, but we have so many people like this in our youth team. Is this considered a discovery?"

"Yeah, he's quite tall, but that's all. Wang Kai is 212cm tall, and I don't see you like him that much!" Su Quan was also confused.

"After training together for so long, is this all you feel?" The old man continued to laugh.

The two teenagers pondered for a moment, and Su Quanxian said, "Well, it feels a little different from the youth team. They're more enthusiastic, they take winning and losing very seriously, they train very hard, and they don't need supervision. In terms of attitude, they're a little better than the youth team."

"Yeah, they obviously can't beat me, but they challenge me to a duel every day. Now I feel like vomiting when I hear the word 'duel'!" Guo Tianzhen held his head in his hands, looking distressed.

"That's just one of the reasons. In fact, there are many talented teenagers here. They started playing basketball later and were much older than you. But I'm sure that their love for basketball is more genuine and pure than yours."

The old man's smile faded. "They never thought about tomorrow, or what the future would hold. All they had in mind was the present. They wanted to prove who was stronger and who was weaker."

"If you lose, keep training to defeat him. Even if you win, keep training, because there are stronger ones waiting. Just like there are mountains behind the mountains, climbing is not about which mountain you climb, but about enjoying the process of climbing!"

"This is campus basketball. It's fundamentally different from what you've experienced before. For those of you who consider basketball your livelihood, sometimes, your experience isn't as pure as for those who consider basketball their only goal."

"The only one?" Guo Tianzhen was stunned.

"Do you know what the only one means?" The old man patted the boy's head, "Besides this, there is nothing else I love!"

"Is it so pure?" Su Quan was a little bit unbelieving.

"It won't be long before you understand. There are indeed many young people like you here. That's why I brought you here. I hope you can rediscover basketball, your only livelihood!" The old man looked deeply at the two contemplative teenagers, then stood up and said, "Let's go. It's late!"

The two teenagers had no choice but to put aside their confusion for the time being and follow obediently.

"I have a lot of things to do, so I'll leave tomorrow. You just stay in Taihu. Coach Cui will know how to use you. Put away your arrogance. As far as I know, the Shandong team and several famous training camps have sent people in. Don't think you are the best in the world!" The old man nodded with a hum.

"Ah! It's getting lively now. Will our old rivals show up?" Both teenagers were surprised and delighted.

"Besides, there might be a few local teenagers from Nanyang who can cause you trouble. But let me tell you this: if you don't help Taihu win the championship this year, you'll have to stay here for another year!"

"Ah! No, I don't want to study!" they both shouted.

The old man turned a deaf ear and went down the hill.

This year's Nanyang Championship will be particularly lively.

Many forces will turn their attention to me. This is fine. I'll consider it my contribution to my hometown, and let them know that the hearts of Nanyang people have long been hammered into steel by the sea. When it comes to competition, we are the most compatible.

※※※※

"Yu Hao, come here!" Sun Yi beckoned. His hair was messy and tangled, and his eyebrows were straight, just like his personality: he never hid his likes or dislikes. His eyes were narrow and always half-closed, and his cheeks were long and as white as knife-cut noodles.

He looked very imposing as he sat there, with his long arms and legs, broad shoulders and hips, like a white door, standing there stiffly.

Yu Hao, whose name was called, immediately trotted over, half bent over, rested his hands on his knees, and whispered, "Captain!"

"There were a few unnecessary moves just now. You didn't need to hover when changing direction in front of your body. This gave your opponent time to react. Also, your footwork was too rigid. You didn't move when you should have moved, and you moved around when you should have stayed still. Your explosiveness was lacking, and your stamina was gone." Sun Yi analyzed each move to him one by one. He stood there, simulating Yu Hao's moves just now.

His voice was deep and a little hoarse. Normally, he was quite quiet, but at the training ground, he became quite talkative. Every training day, his teammates would spontaneously bring some throat-soothing drinks or medicine.

For three years, he personally trained every player at Nanyang High School. Teams 1, 2, and 3—every player has been trained by him. He's not just the captain in name only, but also the big brother of the youngsters. At the high school, even head coach Xiao Mingguang knows who has the final say. As a head coach, Xiao Mingguang doesn't find it awkward. Sun Yi's presence is the foundation of the high school's strength; he's its totem.

Yan Zhen was watching from a distance. His eyes were a little dim, but his expression remained cold. With his lips pursed, he walked to a farther basketball hoop and began to consolidate his shooting form.

Time ticked by, lights extinguished one by one, and the Affiliated High School's night practice had long since passed. Soon, only Yan Zhen's basketball hoop remained lit in the entire arena. Between darkness and light, the young man tirelessly threw the basketball again and again, then ran to retrieve it.

The empty gym seemed deserted, with only the sound of the basketball hitting the floor. Footsteps were heard, and a tall figure walked out of the darkness. Yan Zhen watched with a slight breath, but did not speak.

"Are you not going to let me sleep?" Sun Yi asked hoarsely.

Yan Zhen was stunned when he heard this, then he remembered that, yes, the captain had always lived in the gym, with a folding spring bed and a mat, and the gym had become his dormitory.

Yan Zhen lowered his head, picked up the basketball and walked out. When he came to Sun Yi, he paused, but immediately quickened his pace.

"and many more!"

Yan Zhen's heart trembled and he stopped.

Sun Yi turned around and looked at Yan Zhen in the darkness, and could only vaguely see a blurry figure.

"It was clearly you who won against No. 1 Middle School, but why did I ask you to publicly reflect on your mistakes and ban you from training for a week after you came back? Do you really hate me?"

Yan Zhen did not answer, but silence was already the final response.

"You broke the agreement, you exposed your strength, you woke up No. 1 Middle School, and you ruined our year-long plan." Sun Yi paused and continued, "The competition is coming up soon, and I don't want you to train with emotions, so today is a good time."

"Come, sit down!" Sun Yi sat down casually on the ground. Yan Zhen hurriedly took a few steps and returned to the light.

The two sat opposite each other. The stadium was very quiet, and Sun Yi's voice was also lowered, which made his words sound a little empty, as if they came from the sky. This was Yan Zhen's feeling, because what he said next was indeed true.

"You come from a background of street ball, but many of your moves are still standard. I can't see any other templates in you. You are more like a brand new personality. For example, you don't shoot three-pointers like other people do. You like to look for open space and wait for someone to get close before shooting. You are deliberately increasing the difficulty. It's very deliberate."

"You don't use fakes when you're driving, you prefer to just force your opponent. It's not that you can, it's just that you like to get past people that way."

"Your shooting isn't stable, but you love to take shots. No matter what, you have to make them harder. Even though your consistency isn't great, with your excellent physique, you can always score some difficult goals, the so-called magic shots."

"You're crazy and always provoking people on the court. This is good for the game, but it's also bad."

"You are being punished for disobeying orders. It's about to begin. This time, many teams are ready to make a move. We have many strong opponents. It's an elimination match, so we need a stronger will to face it."

After saying so much, Sun Yi's voice became even hoarse. He patted Zhao Ye's shoulder and said, "It's late, go home. When you figure it out, come find me again!"

Yan Zhen had a conflicted expression. He hesitated and did not stand up obediently.

Sun Yi looked at the young man in front of him calmly.

The captain of a team must be very different from the others. They may have many flaws and shortcomings, but they all have one common characteristic.

That's purity.

The love for basketball, the desire for basketball, and the obsession with basketball are like a ray of light.

Brilliant and lasting.

Only purity is eternal and radiant.

"Captain..., I was wrong!" Yan Zhen raised his head.

Facing a gaze that was three parts hesitant and seven parts regretful, Zhang Zhenyun nodded gently.

"I asked you to come here so that you can be the future leader of the affiliated high school!"

The gentle voice shook Zhao Ye's mind like thunder, and the boy looked at the captain in amazement.

"Take responsibility, do the hardest things, stop the strongest opponents, buy more opportunities and time for other wolves, and win every battle. This is the basketball rule of the Affiliated High School."

"Don't be a lone wolf, that's ridiculous. Believe in the collective, believe in the team, and believe in every teammate who plays. Yan Zhen, you can do it."

"Let's go, say goodbye to today's you, get some sleep, and tomorrow, this wolf pack of the Affiliated High School will be even stronger!"

Yan Zhen didn't know how he walked out of the gym. He was in a mess, and even he, who was usually calm, had mixed thoughts.

"Hey!" A voice woke him up.

Looking in the direction of the voice, Zhao Ye couldn't help but frown.

Road Cloud.

A true lone wolf. During this period, Yan Zhen heard many people whispering behind his back that he was the second Lu Yun.

He was the undisputed core of the affiliated high school and the one Sun Yi valued the most, but for some reason, he disappeared and left the team.

This high school boy, who had an evil aura from his posture to his appearance, was looking at him with a cynical smile.

"You got lectured by him? You must be very excited!"

Yan Zhen stared at him coldly.

Chewing gum, the boy didn't care about his attitude.

"If playing ball means serving others, you might as well be a waiter, hehe." Lu Yun laughed softly, shook his head and walked away with his hands in his trouser pockets.

The street lights on campus stretched Lu Yun's back very long. Yan Zhen stood there for dozens of seconds, then spat, got on his bicycle, and rode away with all his might.

Hearing the sound of the bicycle bell, Lu Yun did not turn around. He was still smiling on this deserted campus road under the dim light.

I vaguely remember hearing him say this on this day last year.

Haha, it's all an illusion, bah! Don't let me compete, don't let me play, ban me!
Meaningless pursuit, bullshit yearning.

Lu Yun's expression suddenly became ferocious. He clenched his fists, tilted his neck back, and stared at the sky full of stars.

One day, I, Lu Yun, will let you know that I am the savior!
(End of this chapter)