Chapter 104: The Net‑Skimming Volley!

Before the match begins.

Jiecheng Wu and Ji Le Taizao also approached Old Man Ma Gu Door to greet him.

"I didn't expect to meet your team in the first round."

"Ho ho~ No need to worry; just let your players give their all and enjoy the match."

"Yes." "Yes."

The old man squinted, smiling as he sat cross‑legged on the chair; his frail, short frame earned great respect from Budongfeng's coach and department head, drawing the attention of those nearby.

"The first round of the Kanto tournament begins, with Tokyo's Budongfeng Middle School facing Chiba's Rokaku Middle School."

"Now the No. 2 doubles match starts, with Budongfeng Middle School's Neicun Jingjie and Sen Chende against Rokaku Middle School's Shu Xiyan and Mu Gengjin Liang."

The players from both sides walk onto the court.

"Doo! Doo!"

Hearing the sound like a train whistle, Neicun Jingjie looked up in surprise and saw two white streams of air spewing from that man's large nose.

Beside him stood a handsome red‑clad youth with black long hair hidden under a white hat.

"According to senior Da He Ya Ren's intel, they should be the same type as us,"

Sen Chende warned cautiously.

"Got it. No matter what, we'll open the game with our own style."

After this period of training, Neicun Jingjie has become much steadier.

"The match begins! Budongfeng Middle School's Neicun Jingjie serves first!"

After a handshake at the net, both sides take their positions.

"Here it comes!"

Without any prelude, Neicun, stationed at the baseline, launches a sudden attack, tossing the tennis ball up while bending his knees and arching his back to gather more power.

As the ball begins to fall, he explosively pushes off with both feet, swings his arm with the racket, and at the moment of impact the racket executes a brushing motion.

Bang!

The ball, bearing a fierce topspin, whirls a gust of air in the sky and bounces even higher after landing on the court.

Under Coach Ji Le's guidance, Neicun deliberately learned a topspin serve; although not yet mastered enough to be a finishing move, it still secures him sufficient time at the net.

"Doo! Doo~"

Two streams of air burst from his nostrils; Shu Xiyan moves swiftly, his footwork shifting as he immediately retreats behind the baseline.

He extends his arm outward, and the racket intercepts the ball.

Bang!

The ball flips back, its trajectory pointing toward Budongfeng's right‑corner baseline, but by then Neicun has already rushed to the net.

Sen Chende, Neicun, Budongfeng's double‑forward formation!

"Sorry! We took that point!"

Neicun lets out a light shout, holds his racket before him, the ball's shadow reflected in his eyes, his body lunges forward, and the racket pushes the ball slightly ahead.

Bang!

He returns with a cunning low backhand volley.

Swish!

At the opposite side of the court, a flash of red appears, black hair fluttering.

"So naive."

Mu Gengjin Liang, also adept at volleying, had long sensed Neicun's intention.

He instantly adjusts his footwork according to the ball's flight path, rushing toward the landing spot in the front left half of the court.

However.

Pfft~

A soft swish of the net is heard; Mu Gengjin Liang turns his head and sees the ball bouncing off the net, its trajectory instantly altered.

When he tries to change direction, the ball is already lying still on the ground.

"15‑0!"

"Lucky indeed."

Mu Gengjin Chun pouts, then presses the brim of his white hat, not taking the mishap to heart.

On the other side.

Neicun and Sen Chende clap and cheer, appearing very calm and composed.

Bang!

Bang!

Both sides launch fierce offensives on the court.

Sen Chende and Shu Xiyan's brilliant baseline rally draws awe, while Mu Gengjin Liang and Neicun's rapid net‑side volley duel dazzles the spectators.

"15‑15."

"30‑15."

"30‑30."

"40‑30."

The first set's match point has arrived.

Bang!

Shu Xiyan hits a ball skimming the baseline, his ball‑control technique superb.

"Neicun should be pulling that move now, right?"

Shenwei Ming's mouth curved slightly, because he saw Neicun's figure already rushing toward the net again.

Swish!

Under the black brim, a flash of brilliance passed through Neicun's eyes, and his black racket skillfully struck the incoming tennis ball.

Bang!

The tennis ball shot out with a fierce swing.

But in Neicun's eyes, the spot the ball was to hit was not the opponent's court, but the white edge above the central net!

Pfft~

Mugenzu Ryo was at this moment sprinting toward some spot on the right half, but the swift tennis ball lightly tapped the net, its speed dropped sharply, and its trajectory changed.

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Sen Chende, 1-0!"

"Switch sides~"

Watching the tennis ball rolling on the ground, Mugenzu Jun's gaze shifted slightly.

"A game with two net touches; if we blame luck, their luck must be a bit too good."

Pfft~

The tennis ball brushed the net and fell to the ground!

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Sen Chende, 2-0!"

Bang!

Another net touch!

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Sen Chende, 3-0!"

"Switch sides~"

Budongfeng won three consecutive games; whenever the score became critical, Neicun's volley would hit the net and land cleverly in front of it, catching opponents off guard.

"That move can't be used for now."

At the side of the court, Neicun whispered to Sen Chende's ear.

During these days, besides learning a stronger topspin serve from Coach Jile,

he also, under the coach's guidance, developed a brand‑new net‑smashing volley, giving the already tricky volley a second variation and greatly boosting his offensive attribute.

However, though this move is powerful, its effect drops sharply once the opponent is prepared.

So he saves the net‑smashing volley for crucial moments, catching the opponent off guard.

But after three games, even the most sluggish Hexagon players should have noticed.

"Understood, I'll take the next move!"

Seeing Neicun's increasingly steady expression, Sen Chende nodded heavily and gripped his racket handle even tighter.

The match continues!

From the backcourt, Mugenzu Ryo lightly tapped the tennis ball twice.

Swish!

The tennis ball rose, then a black shadow swooped down.

Bang!

A blast rang across the court, the tennis ball streaming with a trail of air, charging straight toward the bottom corner of Budongfeng's service box.

"What a fast serve!"

Neicun praised in his heart; indeed Hexagon's outstanding volleyer, even the serve speed was no less, yet he remained calm.

Tap tap

His toe lightly brushed the ground; the tennis ball just bounced, and his racket was already swinging.

Bang!

Neicun swung with full force, the tennis ball reflected at high speed.

At the same time, he and Sen Chende quickly swapped positions, Neicun moved to the net while Sen Chende returned to the baseline.

"Doo! Doo!"

A whistle sounded in Hexagon's backcourt, Shu Xiyan's racket scooped the ball, and a yellow streak shot into the air.

Neicun looked up; even he couldn't reach that height, but

the next main player wasn't him.

"A Sen, let them see your move!"

Let's make it two chapters for today.

(End of chapter)