Chapter 79: Mountain Rain Approaches, Wind Fills the Tower

Bo Bo Weiqi boasts of being a generation's draft master; elite players like Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Briel were all selected by him in the low slots of the second round.

But even the sharpest insight cannot match a talent sent from heaven.

Who could have thought that Fan Xi, an undrafted player, possessed such terrifying talent, a steady mind, and the bearing of a great general.

Whoa!

Bo Bo Weiqi took two deep breaths, only then easing the shock and regret inside him.

Then, seizing a break in Fan Xi's training, he walked over: "Kid. Can you tell me why you persist in practicing these simplest moves? They don't look cool at all."

Fan Xi replied earnestly: "Because the most concise moves are the most efficient."

Bo Bo Weiqi was startled. Then he asked the question he was most curious about: "You don't have a breakthrough coach guiding you nearby; how do you know how to adjust your tactics? I see you make changes each time, and they seem to work pretty well."

Bo Bo Weiqi's question made Fan Xi pause as well; he felt a bit insecure, because all his skill experience came from Isaiah Thomas's lifelong masterpiece, and his adjustments merely cross‑checked with memories stored in his body, simply compatible.

So, he couldn't give a reason.

He could only brush it off: "I just can. Nothing special, it's innate."

The words made Bo Bo Weiqi's complexion change dramatically, his body stumbling slightly.

Too terrifying!

He inhaled a cold breath; Fan Xi's "brush‑off answer" confirmed his deepest fear: this kid is a born basketball athlete, fed by God himself.

In Bo Bo Weiqi's mind, a truly gifted player is not the kid with explosive physical stats, but those who can auto‑repair and elevate their game ability; for them basketball is instinct, they naturally execute more precise moves than others. For example, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant… they improve almost every day.

The kid before him was the most terrifying; the few stances he just switched through, Bo Bo Weiqi could see with the naked eye that their impact kept growing and quickly matched his physical attributes.

Moreover, recalling that this kid could command two top picks in the Rookie Game… the court values pedigree, and for an undrafted player to have such leadership is rare. Most importantly, he could outright sideline the head coach.

This shows he is not only mentally mature, knows what he wants, a super‑gifted player fed by God, but also a person with ambition, willing to take responsibility and become a leader.

Combine that with the talent he's already shown… *tsk*.

Bo Bo Weiqi licked his lips and said, "Kid, have you ever thought about joining San Antonio."

Huh?

Fan Xi was stunned.

Bo Bo Weiqi smiled, "Just kidding."

At that moment, Kobe Bryant arrived, accompanied by Stephen Nash, Chris Paul and other Western All-Stars, all there to prepare for tonight's main game.

Although most of the players present were leaders of their own teams, they still needed to set up some simple tactics to avoid chaotic play.

The five starters of this year's Western All-Star are: Fan Xi, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Nowitzki, and Tim Duncan.

The seven reserves are: Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Kevin Love, Zach Randolph, Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul.

Among all these All-Stars, Fan Xi's resume is undoubtedly the shallowest and his background the humblest.

He is an undrafted player.

Among the others, the lowest draft slot belongs to Manu Ginobili, who was the 57th pick of the second round in 1999, when the NBA shunned international players. Above him is… Kobe Bryant, the 13th pick in 1996.

The other All-Stars are either first, second, or third picks; there are many fourth and fifth picks, and Nowitzki's ninth pick is already considered low.

This shows how astonishing the legend Fan Xi has built over the past month. It's like a child from a starving, poorly clothed mountain valley who never finished vocational school, yet in a short time becomes a Fortune 500 CEO, sitting with those once‑admired Heaven's Chosen Sons, drinking coffee.

"Hey, brother." Kevin Durant, who arrived almost last, rushed over and warmly embraced Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, last night was awesome. Thanks, Jie Ke, we're lifelong brothers."

Umm…

Fan Xi's face went completely black.

Durant had probably spent several nights with that Mexican girl last night; judging by his flamboyant demeanor, his love life was clearly in full bloom.

Fan Xi sometimes can't understand Americans, why they're so casual. Like Durant, who was clearly aiming for Si Jia Li, yet ended up sleeping with a sexy Mexican woman.

"Jie Ke, you accompanied me on a date last night, I was deeply moved. It taught me a truth: the Si Jia Li I like is the one in my imagination; actually, I prefer Nina…"

Nina?

Fan Xi frowned.

"Yes, Nina, my new girlfriend, she's a jewelry designer; she fulfills all my fantasies about women. So I have to thank you—without you I would never have met Nina." Durant pulled Fan Xi aside and said.

Alright.

Fan Xi shrugged and said, "Glad you're happy, Kevin."

At that moment, Durant mysteriously pulled a square box from his backpack. He told Fan Xi, "This is a gift from me."

As he spoke, he opened it, revealing a watch.

He handed it to Fan Xi.

And helped Fan Xi put it on.

Fan Xi originally thought it was just an ordinary phone; he thought he'd bring another gift later. Exchanging gifts among friends strengthens friendship.

But then Kobe Bryant came over, his face showing surprise: "Wow! Patek Philippe. Jie Ke, when did you buy a Patek Philippe?"

In his impression, Fan Xi wasn't a spendthrift kid, yet now he was wearing a wristwatch.

Fan Xi sensed something from Kobe's surprised tone and said, "Kevin just gave this to me. Is it expensive?"

Fan Xi asked Kobe.

Kobe examined the watch model on Fan Xi's wrist and said, "It could buy about half a Ferrari."

What?

Fan Xi was instantly startled.

Although before joining the league he had heard many stories of NBA stars spending lavishly—like Barkley losing a million dollars in one night, Patrick Ewing handing out tens of thousands of dollars in gifts, Marbury buying cars for his younger brother…

But now it was happening to him.

It truly caught him off guard.

He hurried to take the watch off, but Durant was adamant: "Jie Ke, you fulfilled one of my wishes. Isn't my wish worth a hundred thousand dollars?"

Durant's words carried the aura of a domineering CEO.

Fan Xi was stunned.

Beside them, Kobe was curious about what wish Fan Xi had fulfilled for Du Lante, but he still urged Fan Xi to accept: "Jie Ke, a hundred thousand dollars is peanuts for this guy. He takes more than ten million dollars from Nike each year."

"You can't compare with him; you just entered the league and don't even have an agent. He is already a league super‑rich."

Kobe, of course, hoped his younger brother would take this valuable gift.

Du Lante also forced the watch into Fan Xi's hand and swaggered off to the other side.

Fan Xi really didn't get these billionaires—just went on a date with him once and got such an expensive gift?

No wonder people always say they want to hang with those higher‑tier big shots; even a speck leaking from a big shot's fingernail is enough for an ordinary person to live a good life.

Bo Bo Wade Qi's drill tactics were simple, because most of them had been selected for the USA team training camp; Bo Bo Wade Qi was an assistant coach of the Dream Team, and he had the players run the pre‑set tactics.

In that system Fan Xi played relatively passively; he had never encountered it, and his teammates took it easy, not treating it as a real training.

After all, for these star players, being selected for the All‑Star Game is already an honor, and coming here is more like leisure, socializing, and boosting exposure.

Zha Ke Lan Duo Fu even phoned his wife while running the tactics.

Di Mu Deng Ken looked rather relaxed.

Fan Xi had been a Duncan fan since he was little; Duncan was no different from the superstars he imagined. He was quiet, sometimes making two odd moves only he could understand. Compared with other flamboyant players, he was very silent.

During training, a funny incident occurred.

Westbrook dunked over Chris Paul, which was meant as a training pastime. But Chris Paul got angry, shoved Westbrook, and Westbrook, also hot‑tempered, rushed up to retaliate; fortunately other teammates reacted quickly and separated them.

"This guy is the dirtiest player I've ever seen."

After the minor clash was settled, Westbrook walked over, full of resentment, and said.

Then Du Lante told Fan Xi that Westbrook had already had a grudge with Chris Paul.

The All‑Star Game is sometimes calm, sometimes stormy.

Many years ago, Yi Sai Ya Tuo Ma Si had incited All‑Star players to isolate Michael Jordan, and the rookie Kobe Bryant had also been isolated by Karl Malone and others.

However, tonight was a bit strange.

Chris Paul's temper was explosive, not only because Westbrook dunked on him, but also because nobody responded to him.

He wanted to isolate Fan Xi.

He said some bad things about Fan Xi in front of Duncan, but Duncan didn't reply.

Then he tried to discuss Fan Xi with Nowitzki and Ji Nuo Bi Li, but both used poor English as an excuse not to chat deeply.

Finally, even Blake Griffin rejected his idea. Griffin, when Paul tried to discuss Fan Xi's All‑Star eligibility, voluntarily mentioned that Fan Xi's character was good.

This left Paul extremely frustrated.

He missed his Banana Boat brothers, but they were all in the Eastern. Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, De Huai En Wade De and Ka Mei Lun An Dong Ni.

Now, he felt very lonely.

He watched Fan Xi sit in the All‑Star starting spot that originally belonged to him, saw Fan Xi chatting with the new scoring king Kevin Du Lante, and that guy even gave him a hundred‑thousand‑dollar watch; even Di Mu Deng Ken ran over to glance.

The Lakers' Kobe and Gasol need no mention, and even Zha Ke Lan Duo Fu said in the locker room: "I have to ask him how to make young girls fall helplessly for me."

It seemed Fan Xi was the darling.

Recalling Fan Xi's news from the past two days, it's easy to see that this guy is this year's All‑Star Weekend protagonist.

Day one, the Rookie Game shocked everyone, overpowering all rookies and clinching MVP with a buzzer‑beater.

Day two, the Three‑Point Shot contest broke the record twice, not only winning the Three‑Point King title but also receiving Kobe Bryant's Ferrari prize.

Now it's day three.

"I feel Jieke Fan is going to get MVP."

Chris Paul went to the Eastern players spreading rumors. "He really is a Miracle Child."

When Paul said that, his Banana Boat brothers immediately objected; the Miami Heat Big Three already harbored a grudge from being dunked on by Fan Xi, and now hearing this rookie challenger want to take the spotlight reignited old and new resentments.

"This guy will never get MVP."

Paul Pierce swore solemnly.

Pierce had been heavily provoked yesterday; amid the myriad reports praising Fan Xi, he was the pitiful background figure and felt very sad.

The distribution of Eastern All‑Star players is very simple.

Miami Heat Big Three: Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, De Huai En Wade De, Chris Paul.

Boston Three Giants: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen.

New York Two Giants: Sta De Mai Er, Ka Mei Lun An Dong Ni.

Adding New Jersey Nets' Deron Williams.

The Magic's Dwight Howard.

The Hawks' Qiao Yue Han Xun.

Chicago Bulls' Derek Rose.

They were all Paul's acquaintances; Paul thought, if Fan Xi is in the Eastern, he might not even get a pass.

Because of Paul's deliberate sowing, most Eastern stars reached a consensus: they must not let that rookie keep flaunting. His Miracle Journey had no right to continue so wildly; how could a rookie get all the spotlight? Even the former Heaven's Chosen Son Le Bu Lang Zhang Si wasn't as arrogant; this is the All‑Star, and he only got in by luck, so he must not become the star among stars.

People are like that, unable to tolerate others being too dazzling.

Fan Xi's All‑Star journey this time was just… crazy.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by wind.

These Eastern All‑Stars are the raging wind.

At this moment, Nike was hustling with adjustments and decided to announce this shocking news before the All‑Star Game began.

Also, TNT TV channel was preparing a live broadcast.

They will, before the All‑Star main event starts, have Charles Barkley fulfill his wager in the All‑Star Rookie Game.

…