Billiards: Starting with the Overlord's Shot, Dominating the World

"Oh my, Coach Liu! What brings you here? Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome!" Zhou Zhenhua extended his hands, ready to shake hands with him.

Liu Bin merely glanced at him indifferently, symbolically extended two fingers, touched Zhou Zhenhua's fingertips, and immediately withdrew them, as if Zhou Zhenhua had some kind of virus on his hand.

"Coach Zhou," Liu Bin pushed up his glasses and said lazily, in a tone as if he were assessing a subordinate, "I'm here on orders from our Head Coach Wang to check on the situation of your city teams. I heard that your Blue Ocean City has produced a promising talent this year?"

His tone was full of condescending scrutiny and disdain, as if the fact that the provincial team took a liking to a player from your city team was a huge favor to you.

Zhou Zhenhua's smile froze slightly, but he still patiently said, "Yes, yes, our team's Fan Zhengyang performed exceptionally well in this year's Blue Ocean Cup and won the championship."

"Oh, the Blue Ocean Cup." Liu Bin drawled, a faint sneer playing on his lips. "It's just a city-level amateur competition. Its prestige... well, it's nothing special."

These words made the faces of the city team members who were listening intently around them turn somewhat unpleasant.

Although the Blue Ocean Cup is an amateur competition, there are no restrictions on who can participate. Both amateurs and professionals can participate, so in a sense, the Blue Ocean Cup is a very prestigious event.

But in Coach Liu's mouth, the highest level competition in their city was described as "just so-so"?

Zhou Zhenhua quickly smoothed things over: "Coach Liu is right. Of course, it can't compare to the provincial competitions. But Fan Zhengyang is indeed exceptionally talented and a promising prospect."

"Whether he's a good prospect or not isn't up to you to decide; I have to see him for myself to know." Liu Bin waved his hand, giving a knowing look.

He started walking, pacing around the training hall like a leader inspecting work.

He walked over to a player who was practicing his forehand topspin, glanced at him, shook his head, and let out a sneer.

"His movements are as stiff as a robot's; he relies entirely on swinging his arms for power, not using his waist and hip strength at all. With this level of skill, how can he make it to the city team?"

The team member's face turned bright red instantly, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

He then walked to another table tennis table, where Chen Mo was practicing backhand rallies with his teammates.

Liu Bin squinted at him for a moment and commented, "Hmm, this one is passable. His name is Chen Mo, right? I remember him. His technique is quite comprehensive, but his shots are too straightforward and lack flair. He's okay when he's winning, but his mentality easily collapses when he's losing. He was alright three years ago, but unfortunately, he's been on a downward spiral ever since."

These words struck like a heavy hammer, hitting the hearts of all the city team members hard.

Chen Mo was the undisputed number one player in their city team, the goal that everyone chased and admired! But in Coach Liu's mouth, he was evaluated as worthless.

The players' initial displeasure had turned into suppressed anger. Their fists were clenched, and if Coach Zhou Zhenhua hadn't been there to restrain them with a stern look, some of them probably would have already rushed forward to argue.

Only Fan Zhengyang remained silently practicing his swing, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. But a dangerous glint flashed in his slightly narrowed eyes.

Liu Bin walked around the museum, finally stopping in front of Zhou Zhenhua, shaking his head and letting out a long sigh.

He looked at Zhou Zhenhua with a pitying gaze and said, "Old Zhou, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but ever since Xia Shuisheng appeared in your Lanhai City ten years ago, the pool talent has been declining generation after generation, it's completely withered."

"Back in the day, Xia Shuisheng was a true genius! I remember on her first day in the provincial team, she utterly crushed everyone on the women's team, it was like cutting melons and vegetables! It's a pity that ever since we recommended her to the national team, your Lanhai City hasn't produced a single person who can stand on the same stage."

His words were spoken with "sincere sincerity," but the undertones of boasting and belittling were impossible to conceal.

The phrase "we recommended him for the national team" was particularly self-serving and self-aggrandizing.

In fact, given Xia Shuisheng's abilities at the time, she was a key talent selected by the national team and would have been 100% guaranteed a spot on the national team; there was no need for a recommendation at all.

At this moment, Zhou Zhenhua's face had turned somewhat ashen.

Xia Shuisheng was clearly discovered and personally trained by him for three years before being sent to the provincial team. What does this Liu Bin have to do with him? This guy is blatantly lying and trying to steal credit from me!

"Looking at your team now, only that guy named Chen Mo has some skill. As for the others..." Liu Bin glanced contemptuously at the team members around him. "I think you should switch careers as soon as possible. Playing billiards requires talent, not just hard work."

This area-of-effect (AOE) attack, which cannon-like attacks, finally ignited everyone's anger!

"What gives you the right to say that about us!"

"How do you know we can't win if we haven't even fought?"

"Don't think you're so great just because you're from the provincial team!"

The hot-blooded young team members could no longer hold back and began to speak out in rebuttal.

Even the usually composed Chen Mo had a somber expression and icy eyes at this moment.

Looking at his "frizzy" team members, Liu Bin not only didn't calm down, but became even more smug.

This is exactly the effect he wants; he wants to use this method to demonstrate his authority and superiority as a superior.

He adjusted his glasses and said slowly, "What? You're not convinced? If you are, then keep it to yourself. In the world of billiards, I've eaten more salt than you've played any table tennis. I can see right through you."

Instead of arguing with me here, you should practice your flawed fundamentals. Otherwise, forget about making it to the provincial team, you might not even be able to keep your spot on the city team next year.

His condescending and lecturing attitude is infuriating.

"Coach Liu!"

Zhou Zhenhua, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

"While our Blue Ocean City team may have limited skill, every member has earned their place here through hard work and dedication. You can point out their shortcomings, but please don't insult their dreams!"

"Hey, Lao Zhou, are you angry?" Liu Bin sneered. "Do I call this an insult? I'm just giving them honest advice, even if it's hard to swallow. I'm doing this for their own good, so they don't waste their youth hanging on one person."

He patted Zhou Zhenhua on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Alright, calm down. Where's that kid named Fan Zhengyang? Let him come out so I can see him. If he's really as amazing as you say, then my trip here wasn't in vain. But if he's just like these freaks... well, then your Blue Ocean City can really just disband and start developing badminton instead."

"You...!" Zhou Zhenhua trembled with anger.