Chapter 72: Grandmaster? (First Update)

After the match, Da Xu had no chance at all. Aside from sinking a single mid-range shot, he scored nothing else.

Ming Han finally understood: Fang Huijian had brought in a real master this time.

A fierce battle spirit flared in Ming Han’s eyes, utterly fearless. Only by facing experts can one become an expert.

But Fang Huijian was displeased. He’d expected Ming Han to retreat after witnessing Da Xu’s brutal defeat, giving him the perfect opportunity for mockery. Yet, it was clearly not playing out that way! Ming Han’s eager expression seemed to deliver a harsh truth to Fang Huijian: “Thanks, buddy, for finding me such a worthy and powerful opponent. Now I can truly test my own strength!”

After finishing with Da Xu, Tank's face remained impassive; for him, this was all routine.

“Next?” Truthfully, Tank barely regarded these few as worthy opponents.

Ming Han stepped forward with a smile, “Let’s learn from each other, my friend.”

Tank nodded. Ming Han’s courteous manner was at least not as annoying as the previous guy.

“You take the first offense!”

Ming Han accepted without hesitation.

Tank defended with remarkable seriousness. His long arms and legs blocked every possible path Ming Han might take.

Ming Han felt a surge of excitement. He was almost certain this man’s individual skill rivaled Yu Hang’s.

Ming Han dribbled with his right hand, feinted a breakthrough to the right, then suddenly switched direction to attack the left. Tank hurried to keep up. Ming Han took three steps, rose, and shot. He scored!

Tank was surprised by Ming Han’s fluid movements. “Interesting! Like Durant!”

Fang Huijian’s face darkened at Ming Han’s first basket. Ming Han’s progress was astonishing; during the summer, he’d been nowhere near this level.

Next, Ming Han pressed the attack again. He dribbled with his back to the defender, then suddenly pulled back and shot. Tank seemed familiar with this move, leaping to interfere successfully.

Ming Han was dissatisfied, shook his head, and bounced the ball to Tank.

Tank crossed over and abruptly broke right. Ming Han tried to block, but Tank’s strength was overwhelming; he powered straight to the basket, feinted Ming Han into the air, then hooked the ball in.

The sequence was so fluid that Ming Han couldn’t help but applaud.

Da Xu protested, “Ming Han, what are you doing? Applauding him crushes our morale!”

Tank shot Da Xu a look. “Say one more word, and I’ll play a hundred matches with you.”

Da Xu covered his mouth, thoroughly startled.

“Let’s go again!”

Tank pretended to shoot from the three-point line, then suddenly broke through, stopped abruptly, jumped, and scored!

Ming Han felt a bit disheartened. Tank patted him. “Don’t be nervous!”

Ming Han calmed himself, thinking, I don’t have to win. If I observe his offensive patterns closely, I’ll surely find his weaknesses. Besides, playing against him is immensely beneficial.

Tank attacked again, this time posting up. When he’d pushed far enough, he spun and jumped for a shot.

Ming Han leapt, his long arms blocking Tank’s sight. The shot missed.

Now it was Ming Han’s turn.

He dribbled between his legs, suddenly switched behind his back, accelerated, sped straight to the free-throw line, and jumped for another successful shot!

Ming Han didn’t quite have the ability to go toe-to-toe with Tank, but he certainly didn’t lose as badly as Da Xu had.

They traded attacks, with Tank holding a clear advantage.

9:5.

Tank dribbled behind his back, broke left, faked a mid-range shot, tricked Ming Han into jumping, spun, and shot. Scored!

The game ended; Tank was victorious once more.

Ming Han was convinced, reaching out to Tank, “Impressive, my friend!”

It was no empty compliment; Tank’s skills were truly superb.

Tank showed no particular excitement, merely nodded at Ming Han.

One of Fang Huijian’s followers, who had watched the whole match, was stunned, “Ming Han has only played for half a year, yet he managed a 7-to-3 split against my idol.”

Fang Huijian glared at his subordinate, full of jealousy toward Ming Han.

Tank overheard this and looked surprised. He approached Ming Han, “You started playing this year?”

Ming Han nodded, recalling his six months on the court. Time had flown.

Tank began to admire Ming Han; it was rare to see someone master the basics so solidly in just six months. Tank advised, “Your dribbling lacks variety, and your offensive techniques aren’t fully developed yet. Everything else is excellent.”

Tank rarely evaluated others’ skills, always maintaining a cool demeanor on the court.

Ming Han thanked him, “Thanks for the guidance. Oh! I have a mentor who wants to play against you too.”

Tank nodded, willing to wait.

Ten minutes later, Yu Hang walked over, dribbling alone.

He greeted everyone, then finally noticed Tank.

Unexpectedly, the usually cold Tank smiled warmly at Yu Hang, looking at him as one would a beloved child.

Yu Hang studied Tank carefully, then said, “Lin Zhen?”

Tank nodded.

Few knew Tank’s real name. His lightning speed and tank-like strength on the court had earned him the universally recognized nickname “Tank.”

But clearly, Yu Hang knew his real name.

Yu Hang’s voice trembled slightly, “I haven’t seen you in almost three years.”

Tank laughed, “My dad got transferred to the county, so I moved here to study as well.”

As it turned out, Yu Hang and Tank had known each other for a long time.

Yu Hang explained to Ming Han, “He was the top player at our town’s middle school. When I was in elementary, I often played at their junior high; back then, Brother Lin Zhen gave me a lot of guidance. He’s my mentor!”

No wonder Lin Zhen’s playing style was so similar to Yu Hang’s.

Da Xu joked, “Tank is Yu Hang’s mentor; doesn’t that make him Ming Han’s grand-mentor? Tank, how about we become sworn brothers? That way, Yu Hang is my junior, and Ming Han has to call me grand-uncle.”

Da Xu never missed a chance to gain an advantage over the two.

Tank replied coolly, “Your skills are too lousy; you’re not qualified to be my junior.”

Tank’s words left no room for pride, and Da Xu fell silent immediately.

Yu Hang and Tank, along with the others, shot baskets while sharing stories of recent years.

Tank said, “I attended the city sports school for high school. You might want to consider it.”

Yu Hang had also received an invitation to the city sports school and was still deciding.

The city sports school trained basketball players with great professionalism; their playbooks alone were piled high.

Ming Han, of course, had no intention of considering it; he had never planned to pursue sports seriously. His goal was always City First High School.

In the end, Yu Hang invited Tank out for dinner that evening, hoping he could offer Ming Han some pointers.

Tank accepted. He’d always been quiet, with few friends; Yu Hang was an important one.

He teased Ming Han, unusually, “Little grand-disciple, you’re treating us tonight!”