“Nan Lie, why did you stop me just now?” Kishimoto’s gaze was unfriendly, his tone full of resentment, and the veins on his forehead were still throbbing.
Nan Lie turned his head, his eyes sweeping over the curious glances around them, and said in a very low voice, “Kishimoto, there are so many people here. Do you want Toyotama to be on the sports headlines tomorrow?”
“So what!” Kishimoto stiffened his neck. “Anyway, I won’t let them off. Ryonan’s nobodies just need a good beating!”
Nan Lie’s fingertips caressed the edge of the seat, a cold, sharp curve forming at the corner of his mouth: “When we leave later, I won’t stop you from doing whatever you want.”
Aida Hikoichi, in the back row, had long lost interest in watching the game. Kishimoto’s words were like a thorn in his heart, and the hand holding his notebook trembled uncontrollably, even his pen tip scratching messy lines on the paper.
“Hikoichi, what’s wrong?” Gu Jin noticed his unusual behavior and asked in a low voice.
Aida Hikoichi bit his lip, his voice trembling slightly: “I… I’m fine… Damn it, to actually run into someone like that! What he said just now, he’ll definitely come looking for trouble with us later!”
“Are you very worried?” Gu Jin’s voice remained calm.
“Not entirely…” Aida Hikoichi clenched his fists. “I’m not afraid of getting beaten up, I just can’t stomach the thought of being ambushed and taken advantage of by someone like that!”
“Hikoichi, it’s alright, don’t be nervous,” Gu Jin patted his back, his voice carrying a soothing power.
Just then, the whistle blew sharply on the court, signaling the end of the game.
The electronic scoreboard clearly displayed the score: 102:73, Hakata Shodai High School won by an overwhelming margin.
Sparse applause broke out in the stands, and more people began to pack up, preparing to leave.
“Hikoichi, the game’s over,” Gu Jin stood up. “You wait for me outside first.”
Aida Hikoichi looked up, his eyes full of worry: “Gu Jin, what are you trying to do?”
“Listen to me, wait for me at the east gate of the gymnasium,” Gu Jin’s gaze was calm, giving him a reassuring look. “I’ll be there soon.”
Aida Hikoichi wanted to say more, but Gu Jin’s undeniable gaze stopped him. He could only nod and quickly squeezed through the crowd, clutching his notebook.
A curve formed at the corner of Gu Jin’s mouth, but his face was icy as he stood up and walked towards the two figures in the front row.
Kishimoto was irritably getting up when a massive force, like Mount Tai pressing down, suddenly struck his shoulder, forcing him back into his seat. His bones seemed to creak.
“Who?!” Kishimoto was both shocked and angry, and he spun his head around.
“Don’t move,” Gu Jin’s voice came from behind him, his tone as calm as if he were discussing an unimportant matter, yet the hand pressing on his shoulder was as steady as a rock.
Only Kishimoto himself knew what terrifying power was contained beneath that hand; it felt like a mountain was pressing down, making even the thought of struggling seem ridiculous.
Nan Lie noticed the movement and was about to get up when another equally steady force landed on his shoulder.
“And you, it’s best if you don’t move either,” Gu Jin’s voice had no fluctuation whatsoever. One hand held each man, and he stood tall behind them.
Nan Lie’s smile faded a bit. He turned his head, trying to keep his tone calm: “Gu Jin, what is this? Didn’t I just apologize for Kishimoto?”
“You’re Nan Lie, right? I know you. Now, please put away your two-faced act; it won’t work on me,” Gu Jin’s gaze swept over him, sharp with insight. “As long as you sit honestly, I’ll just say a few words. If you have other ideas, you’re welcome to try.”
Kishimoto secretly gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead: “What the hell is this immense strength? This guy looks lean, did he stuff his arms with iron blocks?”
Nan Lie also tried to move, but his shoulder felt as if it were welded to the seat, not budging an inch.
He was secretly alarmed—this Gu Jin, not only was his basketball skill highly praised, but his strength was also unbelievably great.
“You’re Kishimoto, right?” Gu Jin’s voice came through their shoulders, clearly reaching their ears. “If you have an issue with Ryonan, we can meet on the court at the National Tournament. But if you want to cause trouble for me or my teammates, we can meet right here, right now.”
“Bastard! Let go of me if you dare!” Kishimoto roared, his face flushed red.
Gu Jin scoffed, adding a bit more force, causing their seats to let out a faint groan: “Use your brain. Right now, here, you don’t even have the strength to stand up. If we really went outside, do you think you’d still be able to stand?”
“Damn it!!!”
Kishimoto was choked into silence, only able to glare fiercely ahead, his chest heaving violently.
Nan Lie was silent for a few seconds, then put on his gentle smile again, though the gloom in his eyes deepened: “Gu Jin is joking. Our Toyotama has always settled scores on the court; how could we do something underhanded outside of it? Kishimoto was just impulsive earlier, please don’t take it to heart.”
“It had better be that way,” Gu Jin’s voice grew cold. “I don’t care what Toyotama’s style was before, but if you mess with Ryonan, you’ll have to weigh the consequences.”
He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through their backs, landing on the center of the distant court: “National Tournament, I’ll be waiting for you. But before that, whoever dares to lay a finger on anyone around me—”
The hands pressing on their shoulders suddenly withdrew, and the immense, mountain-like force abruptly vanished, causing both Kishimoto and Nan Lie to sway involuntarily.
—“I guarantee, you will regret coming here.”
Gu Jin’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable ruthlessness, like an ice pick stabbing into their hearts.
By the time they turned around, Gu Jin had already turned and quickly disappeared into the departing crowd.
Kishimoto gasped for breath, slamming his fist hard on the seat: “Damn it! That bastard!”
Nan Lie watched the direction Gu Jin had disappeared in, his smile slowly receding, his eyes as cold as a poisoned blade.
“Gu Jin…” He softly murmured the name, his fingertips curling slightly. “Interesting.”
It seemed this National Tournament would be even more interesting than he had imagined.
“Nan Lie, you’re not just going to let them off like that, are you?” Kishimoto was seething with anger, his fists still creaking.
Nan Lie glanced at him sideways, slowly stood up, and brushed dust from his lapel: “Didn’t Gu Jin tell you to use your brain just now? This isn’t Osaka, and besides—do you have the confidence to take him down?”
Kishimoto opened his mouth, the oppressive feeling of his shoulder being held down still lingering. His defiant words caught in his throat, and he could only squeeze out a “I…”
“My intuition isn’t wrong,” Nan Lie interrupted him, his eyes deepening. “It’s possible that even you and I combined aren’t his match.”
Nan Lie was not only Toyotama’s captain, but his reputation in Toyotama High School’s delinquent circles was also not false.
Gu Jin’s seemingly casual press just now, with its hidden steady strength and unruffled demeanor, was something he couldn’t handle.
Kishimoto kicked the seat leg hard, the iron frame making a dull clang: “Damn it, how humiliating… When have I, Kishimoto, ever been treated like this!”