Chapter 281: Fan Xi Stands Up, Testing a World Turned Upside Down

The Lakers are not going to let the Kuaisuan limp along any longer; De'Angoni issued an order from the bench, demanding that the players settle the battle in the first half of the fourth quarter, and for that he put Kobe Bryant onto the court, strongly demanding that the Kuaisuan be crushed from both offense and defense.

This is not an unrealistic demand.

Everyone believes they can do it easily, including themselves.

To anyone who understands basketball, the game looks like a boxing match of a different weight class, and the Kuaisuan being knocked out is only a matter of time.

The Kuaisuan themselves also clearly know the seriousness of the situation, including Fan Xi, who is thinking calmly.

Head coach Mike Brown holds the playboard, looking a bit at a loss.

This has nothing to do with tactics or the team's fighting spirit: in fact, the entire Kuaisuan are eager for battle now, whether young players or old guys, they all want to burn wildly in front of a strong opponent.

But the opponent's lineup is too powerful.

The abilities of the two sides' players differ greatly.

In a sense, for the Kuaisuan to reach this point under such unfavorable conditions is already a rare victory.

Beep!

The whistle sounds quickly.

The fourth quarter begins.

Before the game resumed, Fan Xi and Mike Brown discussed and substituted in a young lineup of Jimmy Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Kuameibulang, and De Andrew Jordan.

Fan Xi knows that at this moment there is no other way, only a path into darkness, only a fight like a cornered beast, stubbornly resisting to the end.

In a narrow passage, the brave win.

The Kuaisuan have only this one option left.

"Jie Ke, I will never allow the Lakers to dominate you, and I will not let those foolish guys utter their arrogant words tonight."

Before taking the court, Jimmy Barrett clenched his teeth and solemnly told Fan Xi.

It's not just Jimmy Barrett; from Leonard, Kuameibulang, and Little Jordan's eyes, one can see this strong will.

Fan Xi is deeply moved by having such good brothers.

In terms of unity, the Kuaisuan are no worse than any team in the league.

Fan Xi performs excellently in the leadership role; he considers everyone, and everyone consciously upholds his authority and dignity.

This has nothing to do with whether Fan Xi becomes the Kuaisuan's owner.

Leonard passes the basketball to Fan Xi, who advances with the ball; ahead of him are four silent teammates, their faces iron‑gray, moving forward with a firm and solemn stance.

Like a disciplined, super‑confident iron army.

Kobe Bryant watches this pack of wolves moving stealthily through the night and feels from the bottom of his heart that it is a thorny situation. Although he knows the Kuaisuan are still far behind the Lakers in every aspect, he is certain that the Kuaisuan will not stay like this forever; they will soon rise.

The offspring of tiger and leopard, though not yet marked, already bears the aura of devouring cattle.

Fan Xi is at the top of the three‑point arc, while Chris Paul still holds a half‑step defense.

But Fan Xi no longer engages in empty gestures with him.

Fan Xi accelerates from the left sideline, charging fiercely, like a one‑way death shot.

Chris Paul's defense is pierced with a hole, and Fan Xi darts in like lightning.

He then rushes at breakneck speed into the paint; immediately, Fan Xi leaps, his body forming a battle axe, ready for a dunk, forcing Howard and Gassoul to move to defend, and at that moment Fan Xi passes the ball down to the rim.

Kuameibulang grabs the ball and then leaps explosively, even though Matt Barnes has already fouled him from behind, trying to hold him.

But he still grits his teeth and forces a jump, even as Howard turns to block.

He keeps pressing forward, with only one thought in his mind: never let Jie Ke endure the Lakers' scornful jeers.

Bang!

Howard slaps his face, the pain burning hot.

But he still insists on releasing the ball first with his left hand, in his most favored style… then he loses his balance and crashes hard to the floor.

Beep!

The head referee blows the whistle.

Bang! Swish!

The basketball scrapes the backboard and goes in.

Bang!

Kuameibulang, who has fallen on the floor, slams the board hard, letting out a defiant roar from his throat: Roar!!!

He excitedly climbs up from the floor, glaring angrily at the defender.

Then he gives Fan Xi a hard high‑five.

He is thrilled, feeling that he can finally do something for Fan Xi. Though he is in pain—his butt, his swollen face, his hand that pounded the floor.

Fan Xi is deeply moved.

Kuameibulang steps to the free‑throw line; his free‑throw percentage is low for a center, only a bit better than O'Neil's.

But now he is fully focused, squinting his swollen left eye at the rim, then carefully releases the ball… Swish!

When the ball lands, he lets out another roar.

The point gap narrows.

The sides are switched and the battle resumes.

Five Kuaisuan players pounce on the Lakers players like hungry wolves, each giving two hundred percent effort.

They at times make the Lakers very passive.

But the Lakers' raw power ultimately prevails; Kobe Bryant, amid Leonard's frantic weaving, passes to Gassoul, who, facing Little Jordan's tight defense, finishes with a hook shot.

And he also draws a foul on Little Jordan.

Little Jordan defended too aggressively.

Swish!

Pau Gasol easily makes the free throw; he doesn't even need to adjust.

His hook shot is also a breeze, without the heavy price of a comeback like Kuameibulang to score.

The gap between them is the same as the gap between the Lakers and the Kuaisuan.

The Lakers score as if strolling in a courtyard, while the Kuaisuan are like rowing against the current.

The two contrast.

It is very obvious.

"Strengthen defense, cut off the connection."

De An Dong Ni shouts from the sideline.

The Lakers again employ the Jordan principle, forcing Fan Xi to take a jump shot; they know Fan Xi's shooting percentage tonight is low.

Fan Xi is not resentful; he didn't gamble on that probability.

At that moment, Lun Na De darts out from the free‑throw line, receives the ball from Fan Xi, and pushes forward against Ke Bi's defense. Though he has just entered the league, his frame is solid and he has the courage to stare fear in the face.

Facing Ke Bi's defense, he is not scared at all.

He drives to the free‑throw line, stops sharply, turns, and under Ke Bi's pressure, launches a backward jump shot… with proper form.

Although his movement lacks the grace of Jordan, Ke Bi, or Fan Xi, it is clear he is following that path.

Bang!

The ball rims out.

Kuameibulang throws himself into the paint, blocks Huo Wa De, shoving the powerful starting center behind him; Xiao Qiao Dan also leaps with all his might, disregarding the limited launch space, his body flinging sideways as he hurls the ball forcefully toward the rim.

Swish!

The ball is tipped in.

When Xiao Qiao Dan lands, lacking space, he stumbles, his body tumbling toward the outside, and his hands grip the rim to halt the huge momentum.

The Kuaisuan's basket is made in a terribly risky fashion.

Fan Xi is burning with anxiety.

He fears his teammates getting hurt.

Inside, a strong sense of self‑blame and suppression rises; he blames himself for not being strong enough, forcing his teammates to fight so desperately for him.

The game continues.

The Lakers turn back, still with Ke Bi launching the offense. Ke Bi isolates Lun Na De on the strong side; Lun Na De gives his all to defend, causing great disruption, but Ke Bi is still Ke Bi.

Ke Bi uses a back‑turn fake, then a smooth spin step to shift his defense, watching helplessly as Ke Bi scores with a floater.

Very easily.

Switch sides and fight again.

The game is still ongoing.

Fan Xi forces a drive this time, but after penetrating the paint, he cannot timely and accurately pass the ball out of the double‑team to a teammate; Huo Wa De's help defense is strong, and Chris Paul's lurking sneak attack from behind is ever‑present.

In the end, Fan Xi can only fling himself into the air, using a fighting throw to draw a foul.

He steps to the free‑throw line and makes both shots.

The Kuaisuan play a suicidal, iron‑blooded style of basketball.

The Lakers try to curb the Kuaisuan, but achieve little.

On offense, the Lakers seem to have smooth sailing; they always find an advantage and hit with a single strike.

The game is a blend of iron‑blood grit and brilliance.

From the audience's perspective, the visual effect is perfect.

But everyone knows the Kuaisuan can't hold out for long.

In the sixth minute of the fourth quarter, the Lakers, via Ma Te Ba En Si's three‑point ambush in the corner, widen the gap to double digits.

Then, the self‑critical Jimmy Butler launches a suicidal charge, like a fire‑tailed bull, storming straight into the Lakers' paint; he attacks the rim against Huo Wa De's defense, only to be flipped down from the air by Huo Wa De.

The head referee calls a foul.

But the desperate Butler rolls twice on the floor.

He is in pain but cannot utter a sound.

Fan Xi rushes over, filled with bitter anger, with nowhere to vent; he only hates his own lack of ability.

At a certain moment, he even wants to give up the game.

Because he doesn't want his teammates to keep risking their lives like this.

"Jie Ke. I'm sure I can slam dunk over Huo Wa De's head; I just jumped a little late this time," Butler, as if reading Fan Xi's thoughts, takes two deep breaths, endures the pain, and deliberately says in a relaxed tone.

But Fan Xi knows that when Jimmy Butler jumps, he never intended to dunk; that damned bastard is only trying to draw a foul.

Huo Wa De already carries his fifth foul.

Jimmy Butler's move has great strategic significance.

However, De An Dong Ni thinks for a moment and does not substitute Huo Wa De. He believes the Kuaisuan have reached the end of their strength and will not unleash further power.

Moreover, already leading by double digits, Huo Wa De only needs to hold for three more minutes for garbage time to arrive.

Bang!

Swish!

One of the two free throws goes in.

Jimmy Butler cuts the deficit to nine points.

The game continues.

Chris Paul drives the ball across half‑court, Fan Xi's eyes nearly spewing fire; his suppressed frustration turns into a blazing fury deep within.

He no longer wants his brother to risk his life bearing his dignity and authority.

If we have to risk our lives, then let me Fan Xi lead the charge.

Fan Xi steadied himself, and at the instant Chris Paul just crossed half‑court, he lunged forward.

Chris Paul was somewhat caught off guard, but his ball handling remained steady; as the league's number‑one point guard, his control‑and‑movement technique has always been top‑level.

But he collided with the head‑long Fan Xi.

Most importantly, Fan Xi obtained the Smiling Assassin Yi Sai Ya Tuo Ma Si's full set of control‑movement skills and low center of gravity.

Chris Paul, though unwilling to admit it, does indeed have a sizable portion of his technical traits learned from the Smiling Assassin. Even his early nickname was similar to the Smiling Assassin's; they both had doll faces.

In the instant Chris Paul suddenly turned his back to prepare a drive past, Fan Xi lunged forward, leaping with the motion of a soccer goalkeeper diving for the ball… *crack! *

The basketball was immediately knocked out of bounds by Fan Xi.

Then, still in a "climbing" state, Fan Xi couldn't steady his center of gravity to stand upright, so he lunged again, reaching out to scoop the ball.

*crack! *

Fan Xi hurled the basketball back onto the court with force, while his body sped toward the sideline.

Fan Xi's eyes remained fixed on the court, and when he saw Jimmy Butler sprinting onto the court at full speed… *whoosh! *

Fan Xi fell heavily to the ground.

The massive pain caused his body to instinctively curl up.

His body's blood surged uncontrollably toward the top of his head.

Then, he heard a very familiar voice: Jie Ke! Jie Ke!

It's Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te, it's Si Jia Li Johnson, and Liu Yifei's Fan Xi! Fan Xi!

Fan Xi's mind was still a little dazed, because his forehead struck the ground first, and pain and blood pooled at the top of his head.

At that moment, he heard a woman on the sideline shouting at him: Jie Ke! Jie Ke! You need my warm embrace; I can give you the best solace…

It was a stranger's voice.

But quickly, she was intercepted by Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te and Si Jia Li at the same time: "You shut up, move aside."

"This is an internal matter between us; it has nothing to do with you."

Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te's voice was very clear.

It fell into Fan Xi's ears, yet carried a different emotion.

He opened his eyes, and Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te and Si Jia Li crouched down together, asking Fan Xi with concern: What exactly happened?

At this moment, Fan Xi's mind was still replaying another matter.

He asked Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te: "You just said internal matters between us?"

Before Tai could speak, Si Jia Li said: "Of course. Should we allow other chaotic women to intrude on our relationship?"

While speaking, she also exchanged a glance with Tai Lei Si Wu Fu Te.

Fan Xi saw this scene… *buzz! *

The blood atop his head instantly scattered, turning into a soothing essence. The unbreakable great lock pressing on his heart was unlocked, and he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.

At the same time… *buzz! *

His already soaring mind flashed with a strand of joyful electricity, and the Energy Halo ignited.

Then, Fan Xi saw a figure familiar to the point of being indescribably familiar.

A comforting smile of the night spread across Fan Xi's mouth.

At that moment, Jean Bas, seated on the other side, also displayed a comforting smile.

She was pleased, even though Jimmy Butler completed a dunk, cutting the point gap to seven.

But when Fan Xi fell onto the side of the Duchess lady, her smile became uncontrollable.

She knew that all her plans would succeed, Jie Ke Fan would soon meet ruin and disgrace, the Lakers would become eternal, and their position in Angel City would be unassailable.

She was extremely happy.

She could never have dreamed that it was precisely because of her series of changes that a chain reaction was triggered.

Fan Xi leveled up again.

Fan Xi stood up, eyes bright.

Behold the heavens and earth turned upside down.

…