The NBA's Absolute Dominance

Chapter 112: Three Swords Again?

On the afternoon of the 17th, Tang Bei returned to Miami.

In Miami, more and more Japanese people are coming to the city, and they are often seen outside the Elena Building.

Television broadcasting teams that had purchased the broadcasting rights, including CCTV, also flocked to Miami.

Japan's NHK television station made the grandest gesture, transporting a satellite broadcasting van, four cameras, and twenty to thirty staff members by private jet.

This time, however, no Hollywood or Hong Kong stars came to watch the kendo duel. After all, the opponent they challenged last time was Steven Seagal, and everyone was there for him.

However, several Japanese celebrities came over, including Miura, Kimura, Sakai, and Norika, all of whom claimed to be fans of Masahiro Miyazaki and flew over specifically to support him.

This martial arts group is even larger, with over a hundred members, including virtually all the famous figures in the Japanese martial arts world.

On the 19th, the live broadcast teams from various TV stations and ten advertisers began entering Tang's Martial Arts School to set up camera positions and advertisements.

Eric Fleischer kept watch inside the building to prevent the Japanese from tampering with it.

Tang Bei trained at the villa that day. In the afternoon, after the martial arts gym had quieted down, he went there to walk around the area.

Upon entering the martial arts gym, one is greeted by a barrage of cameras and advertisements. Lights have been installed on the ceiling, and numerous reporters and photographers are inside. As soon as he enters, they begin taking pictures.

"Tang Bei, are you confident?"

"I can't wait to hear it," asked Lao Zhao, a reporter from CCTV.

"Haha, you should ask the Japanese if they have confidence," he laughed loudly.

"Great!"

Old Zhao and the others said excitedly.

"Mr. Tang Bei, after you are defeated by Miyazaki Sword God, will you close your dojo?"

"Of course, if I lose, the sign of this private martial arts school will be taken down and it will be turned into a fitness club, and I will not open any other martial arts schools."

"Mr. Tang, how many sword strikes do you think you can withstand from Miyazaki's sword?"

“Ten swords…” Tang Bei said.

"Ten swords?"

All the Japanese people got excited.

Old Zhao, Eric Fleischer, and others were taken aback.

At this moment, Tang Bei continued, "If Miyazaki Masahiro can withstand ten sword strikes from me, I'll acknowledge his skill. Even if he loses, I will allow his Heavenly Demon Dojo to continue operating."

"Tang Bei, you're too arrogant!"

"Arrogant! Miyazaki Sword God has never been defeated, he is invincible! You will surely lose this battle!"

“Mr. Tang Bei, Miyazaki Masahiro is a sword god unlike any other in Japan, someone you cannot defeat.”

A group of Japanese reporters broke down and started shouting.

Tang Bei ignored them and went straight to the martial arts arena in the upper right corner, which covered more than 200 square meters. He walked around each area twice and observed which lights were dazzling.

He had just left when Masahiro Miyazaki came over to inspect the site. The two did not meet, as if they were deliberately avoiding each other.

"Mr. Miyazaki, Tang Bei just boasted that he could defeat you with ten swords." A Japanese reporter said as soon as Miyazaki Masahiro entered.

He was furious, his face cold and stern, but he remained silent.

Soon, the sun began to set and night fell.

At seven o'clock, Tang Bei returned to the martial arts school with his bamboo sword.

The martial arts gym was packed with people, mostly Japanese, besides reporters and photographers.

Quite a few Heat players arrived, at least ten of them, all there to watch the spectacle.

Elena Building deployed a team of security personnel to maintain order, and several police officers patrolled the area. Several police cars were parked outside the building.

Under the protection of security personnel, Tang Bei entered the martial arts hall.

"Don."

Glenn Rice and others shouted.

“Hey, Glenn…”

Tang Bei greeted them one by one.

"Um, that..."

Then he noticed a woman who looked familiar, like Sachiko, the female lead in a Japanese TV series he had watched before, called Blood Clotting.

"Jiabao, is that woman's name something like Yamaguchi?" he asked in a low voice.

"Which one?" Jia Bao asked curiously.

“The one in the red kimono,” Tang Bei said.

Jia Bao said with a look of disgust, "That short and old woman? Wet Tiger, which type do you like? What kind of taste do you have?"

"She's a bit short, but not old, right? No, when did I ever say I liked her?" Tang Bei asked, puzzled.

“She’s at least thirty, and you’re not old? You’re only 20, you could call her auntie.” Jia Bao said disdainfully.

"Okay, I won't ask anymore."

Tang Bei wisely chose to give up; if he continued to ask, Jia Bao would likely embarrass him.

At this moment, CCTV-2 began its live broadcast.

Veteran commentator Song Shixiong provided the commentary, and the guest commentator was none other than the renowned veteran Zhao Changjun.

After his opening remarks, Song Shixiong introduced Zhao Changjun's identity and then said:

"Changjun, the swordsmanship competition being broadcast today is quite rare. I heard that Masahiro Miyazaki is very famous in Japan?"

Zhao Changjun nodded and said, "He is indeed very famous. I have heard of Masahiro Miyazaki. He is a six-time champion of the Japan Kendo Championship and is known as the God of War, a figure unprecedented in Japan, and also as the God of Sword."

"Have you heard of Tang Bei?" Song Shixiong asked.

Zhao Changjun said, "I've heard of it. A friend in the Hong Kong entertainment industry mentioned it last time. He said he beat a Hollywood action star."

Song Shixiong said, "He is also a basketball player, currently playing in the NBA, a very strong star center in the United States."

Zhao Changjun nodded and said, "I know that too. CCTV has broadcast his matches."

Song Shixiong said, "Could you introduce some knowledge about Kendo to the audience? And what are the differences between Chinese Kendo and Japanese Kendo?"

"it is good."

Zhao Changjun said, forcing himself to speak.

He knows a thing or two about swordsmanship in China, after all, he won the national swordsmanship championship in the Drunken Sword style, but he knows absolutely nothing about Japanese Kendo!

At 7:10, Masahiro Miyazaki arrived at the martial arts school.

"Miyazaki-kun has arrived."

"Wishing Miyazaki, the Sword God, great success in his martial arts career!"

His arrival invigorated all the Japanese in the martial arts school, and the noise level immediately rose.

Masahiro Miyazaki bowed ninety degrees to his supporters, then bowed to Tang Bei.

After Tang Bei returned the greeting with clasped hands, the two began to prepare and put on their protective gear.

Before coming, the two had warmed up their bodies. Now, in addition to protective gear, they also needed to adjust their mindset, focus, and get used to the new environment.

Secondly, this time it's being broadcast live worldwide, so we can't just start fighting whenever we want. We have to wait for the agreed-upon time to fight, otherwise it would be a breach of contract.

As a disciple, Jia Bao was responsible for dressing Tang Bei in protective gear.

Tang Bei whispered in her ear, "Jiabao, your kendo idol is old and short, and you like this type? What kind of taste do you have?"

"Old and short, why does that phrase sound so familiar?"

Jia Bao tilted her head and thought for a moment. She glanced at Miyazaki Masahiro over there, who was a head shorter than her. Then she looked at Shikko next to her, who was a head taller than her. Hmm, Shikko is more handsome. Maybe she should change to a kendo idol?

In Tang Bei's home in Huanghuadian Village, Tang Ning stared wide-eyed at the television and exclaimed in surprise, "Mom, sister, look! That red-haired foreign girl and my older brother are so affectionate!"

Lin Lan and the other members of the Tang family naturally saw it and rushed to the television, staring wide-eyed at Elena Garbo on the screen.

"Beautiful! So beautiful! And so tall, she's a perfect match for my older brother," Tang Yu said with a smile.

Lin Lan asked doubtfully, "Is this a foreign woman? I feel like she has red hair and blue eyes, but her face shape and everything else is similar to a Chinese person."

Today is Saturday, and the Tang family home is packed with people. Thanks to the CCTV publicity, there are a lot of people who have come to join in the fun, and even some village and township officials have come.

"Mixed-race, right?" someone said.

"Hey Tang family, your eldest son wouldn't have brought a foreign girl home, would he?" someone said.

"Foreign girl is fine, there are plenty of foreign girls in Tianjingwei, aren't there? As long as our eldest son likes her, that's all that matters," Lin Lan said nonchalantly.

In the live broadcast studio of NHK television station in Tokyo, three Japanese commentators are giving an enthusiastic presentation.

"Fellow countrymen, a great sword duel is about to begin, and the sword god Masahiro Miyazaki will avenge the shame of Japanese Bushido."

"Yes, Miyazaki will personally defeat the Chinese with his ultimate swordsmanship."

"A resounding and magnificent victory awaits Lord Miyazaki, the Sword God."

Far away in Chicago, Jordan sat in front of the television, a cup of coffee in his hand.

He desperately wanted to witness Tang Bei's defeat, as that would bring him joy.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Steven Siegel was also sitting in front of the television, holding not a coffee, but a bottle of liquor.

After losing the challenge match and closing the Tianxin Dojo, his status in the martial arts world plummeted, as did his status in Hollywood. He went from being a top-tier actor to a third or fourth-tier actor, and is now only offered minor roles.

Having just risen to become a top-tier action star, he had invested all his savings in the Tianxin Dojo, resulting in a heavy loss.

He also started drinking heavily to drown his sorrows, and he abandoned the martial arts he used to practice every day, such as Aikido and Karate. Of course, he hoped that Miyazaki Masahiro would win the kendo duel between Tang Bei and Miyazaki Masahiro.

Masahiro Miyazaki's victory is a victory for Japanese martial arts, and as a part of it, he may also have a chance to turn things around.

Eight o'clock, Tang's private martial arts school.

"time up."

The head referee, one of the three fencing referees, shouted loudly.

As Tang Bei and Miyazaki Masahiro entered the arena with their swords, the atmosphere immediately became tense.

On the sidelines of the fighting arena, Elena Garbo raised her fist and shouted, "Go Wet Tiger!"

"It sounds like he's calling me 'Master,' or 'Big Brother's' disciple?" Tang Yu muttered to himself in confusion.

"Big brother, according to the old Tang family rules, if you kill the Japanese devils, you'll get a separate page in the family tree. Good luck!" Tang Ning shouted excitedly, his focus different.

"Snapped!"

Tang Ning's mother, Lin Lan, slapped him on the bottom and said irritably, "If you don't discipline him for three days, he'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles. If he kills someone, won't your older brother have to pay with his life?"

"hiss!"

That slap was really hard; it made the little girl Tang Ning's eyes widen in pain, tears welling up in her eyes, and she was jumping up and down while clutching her bottom.

"Ha ha……"

Seeing the mother and daughter, the villagers who were watching the commotion couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Tang Family Martial Arts School.

Under the bright lights, the presiding judge was in the middle, Tang Bei was on the left, and Miyazaki Masahiro was on the right. The two of them performed a sword salute and stood facing each other, about two sword lengths and two arm lengths apart.

Tang Bei's body was incredibly imposing, and with the protective gear he wore, he appeared even more majestic, like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiled.

Miyazaki Masahiro was only 1.7 meters tall and wasn't wearing shoes, making him look thin and short, like a child in front of Tang Bei.

"Hold!"

"GO!"

The presiding judge repeatedly called out the commands "ready" and "start".

Miyazaki Masahiro held his sword forward with both hands, but instead of attacking, he adopted a defensive stance, guarding the center gate.

He had witnessed firsthand the swordplay battle between Siegel and Tang Bei. Siegel's powerful fighting style failed too quickly. Today, he would adopt a strategy of first defending and then attacking, with offense within defense.

Tang Bei immediately drew his sword and gripped it with one hand.

Raise your sword!

Seeing that Miyazaki Masahiro did not attack, he did not hesitate and took a small step forward, casually flicking his wrist.

This sword strike, delivered over a short distance, was incredibly swift and powerful, resembling a full-force strike from an ordinary swordsman, instantly striking the tip of Miyazaki Masahiro's sword.

"Zheng!"

The crisp sound of bamboo swords striking each other rang out.

"what?"

Miyazaki Masahiro's tightly gripped sword was actually knocked away. Although he was mentally prepared and knew that Tang Bei was powerful, he did not expect him to be this powerful.

Such powerful sword force served as a wake-up call for him, and he knew that Siegel's defeat was truly well-deserved.

Fortunately, he was mentally prepared. As soon as the bamboo sword was deflected, he immediately took a step back and returned the sword to the center to intercept his opponent's second sword.

Sure enough, Tang Bei's second sword strike arrived.

Another thrust of the sword, fierce and sharp, with an extremely ferocious momentum.

"Zheng!"

Miyazaki Masahiro's bamboo sword struck Tang Bei's bamboo sword, and a crisp clash resounded once again.

However, he still underestimated Tang Bei's sword speed.

Originally, he intended to strike the tip of the sword where the sword force was weakest, but because Tang Bei's sword speed was too fast, he struck the middle of the sword.

"how is this possible?"

Amidst the clashes, he was shocked to discover that his sword was unable to deflect Tang Bei's bamboo sword.

He couldn't believe that he, wielding a sword with both hands, couldn't deflect Tang Bei's sword, which was wielded with only one hand. The difference in strength was so vast that they were not even in the same league.

In the next instant, "Snatch!", Tang Bei's bamboo sword pierced Miyazaki Masahiro's chest and heart with unparalleled sharpness.

"Okay!"

Greta Garbo cheered.

"The left side was hit."

The presiding judge issued the verdict at the same time.

"Oh!"

The scene was filled with gasps of surprise from the Japanese.

In Japan, countless Japanese people, just like those present, could hardly believe that their sword god had been stabbed so early in the kendo duel.

On the contrary, at this time, countless people in China were cheering, including the Tang family.

CCTV invested two million RMB in this Sino-Japanese kendo duel and promoted it repeatedly, so the number of people watching the duel was very large, far exceeding the number of people watching Tang Bei's NBA regular season games.

At the scene, Masahiro Miyazaki, who had been struck by the sword, felt a force penetrate straight through his sternum and heart. His sternum stabbed with pain, and his heartbeat even stopped for a moment.

"very scary!"

He knew that if Tang Bei had a real sword, this sword would have already pierced him.

Even with a bamboo sword, this strike would likely have cracked his sternum, just like Siegel's wrist bone was broken; otherwise, his sternum wouldn't be in such excruciating pain.

He immediately retreated continuously, wielding his sword with both hands to sweep the middle path with all his might, in order to avoid being hit by Tang Bei repeatedly.

Tang Bei took a large step forward, each step covering two of his opponent's, and instantly returned to the attack range, seizing the opportunity to unleash his sword techniques.

Slash!

But it wasn't the sword that Miyazaki Masahiro thought would pierce the door; instead, he raised his right arm and delivered a powerful, downward slash.

Including his sneakers, he was more than 40 centimeters taller than Masahiro Miyazaki. This sword strike came down from above, slashing down on Miyazaki with overwhelming force.

"not good!"

Miyazaki Masahiro reacted very quickly, immediately raising his sword horizontally with both hands.

"Zheng!"

Amidst the clash of bamboo swords, Tang Bei's bamboo sword directly cleaved Miyazaki Masahiro's bamboo sword, and then with a "thud," the blade struck the opponent's crown.

"Snapped!"

The moment he struck, Tang Bei's bamboo sword could not withstand his force and broke.

"hiss!"

Miyazaki Masahiro, who was struck by the sword, felt a splitting headache. His armor could not withstand the sharp sword force, which penetrated straight into his brain, seemingly causing his brain to churn like volcanic lava.

"what!"

A piercing scream echoed through the Tang family's private martial arts school. Miyazaki Masahiro released his bamboo sword, clutched his head, and collapsed to the floor.

Both the Japanese people at the scene and those watching on television were gaping, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Many of them simultaneously thought of the same thing: "Miyazaki Kenshin lost so pathetically, he didn't even manage to land a single strike."

"Three swords, three swords again! Wet Tiger is amazing! He's my kendo idol!" Elena Garbo jumped up excitedly.

At this time, the whole country, including the Tang family, was in a state of jubilation.

Tang Ning said smugly, "See that? The Three Swords beat the Japanese! My older brother used to be the best in Tianjin, and now he's the best in the world! Haha!"

"Girl, when did your older brother become the best in Tianjin? How come we didn't know?" someone teased.

Tang Ning's little face immediately hardened, and she said unhappily, "Ever since my older brother grew to two meters tall, he has been the number one in Tianjin."

Tang Yu chimed in, "Fourth brother is right. Once my eldest brother reaches two meters, no one dares to fight him. What else could he be but the number one in Tianjin?"

"Yes, yes, your eldest brother is the best in Tianjin."

The villagers all flattered him with laughter.

"Come on, come on..."

Overjoyed, Lin Lan brought out a large bowl of glutinous rice strips and cooked pear cakes to serve her guests.

When the Tang family was poor, they wouldn't say anything, but when they were rich, they were very generous. They always had snacks and refreshments at home when they had many guests, some of which were bought and some were homemade.

For no other reason than that, both of my sons are of marriageable age, and a better reputation will make it easier for them to find wives in the future.

On March 22, Tang Bei was notified that his Hummer H1 had arrived at Tianjing Port.

Because it's a duty-free car, the procedures are relatively fewer, but Tang Bei entrusted the company to handle the car's license plate, so it will take about a month before he can pick up the car.

On April 14th, in Chicago, the Heat and Bulls will play their final regular season game.

"Mr. Jordan, it's time to pay the bill."

In the player tunnel, Tang Bei said to Jordan with a grin.

Jordan, his face grim, pulled out a check for two hundred thousand dollars that he had prepared and handed it over, saying, "Don, if you have the guts, go and participate in a professional boxing match. I bet you'll lose."

(End of this chapter)