Chapter 186: Genius? It's All About the Genius, a Half‑Lightning Smash!

Swish~

His arm traced an upward arc, and the tennis ball rose over Neicun Jingjie's head at the net, soaring high into the air.

"Naïve."

Under the brim of his black hat, Neicun Jingjie's mouth twitched upward, but he showed no intention of retrieving the ball.

Tap tap tap.

A rapid series of footsteps sounded, and a black figure leapt up behind Neicun Jingjie.

His disheveled strands fluttered lightly, his left arm stretched upward, sharp eyes lowered to precisely catch the pale‑yellow arc, and the racket rolled with it.

And at that moment, suddenly—

"Clang clang clang!"

The two piled together, four hands simultaneously reaching to the sides; in front, Yu Chi wore red eye patches, eyes tightly shut, lips pursed downward, assuming an exceedingly solemn pose.

"Thousand‑Hand Guanyin~~!!"

"Pfft!"

"Don't blame you guys; Jing Xing can watch a comedy show without laughing at all, hmph hmph!"

At the net, Neicun Jingjie's head tilted, his hat bent again, and black lines covered his forehead.

He blinked slightly, then raised his pinky and asked in a voice so thin it made the scalp tingle.

"Enough, enough. This is the National Competition semifinals; we must stay calm—winning the match is the priority."

The tense scene made his gut tighten; he flinched, and his hat tilted.

Seeing this, Neicun Jingjie inhaled sharply, and gooseflesh erupted all over his body.

That murderous expression tightened his heart, and he instantly heightened his vigilance.

After a moment's thought, Neicun Jingjie restrained the impulse, endured the throbbing veins on his forehead, and walked toward the back, silently urging himself.

"We will definitely make that cold‑faced guy burst into laughter!"

We two are Osaka's unbeatable hot‑couple comedy duo!!

Before turning, they reached out to straighten Neicun Jingjie's slightly askew hat.

But...

"Um, thank you!"

That solemn atmosphere lasted only a heartbeat before collapsing.

Xiao Chun and Yu Chi instantly pressed back‑to‑back, arms pressed together, pointing straight at Neicun Jingjie and shouting angrily.

"Completely confused by them."

"Brother Ji Le~

Isn't our comedy funny enough?"

"~We've been working hard at comedy, you know~"

"Hmm yeah!"

Feeling someone tug his hat, Neicun Jingjie finally came to his senses, tucked away his snarky spirit, and then looked at the opposite side smugly.

Whoosh!

A fierce, powerful smash plunged from mid‑air, grazing Yu Chi's cheek before crashing hard onto the ground.

"Boring."

But then.

Off the court, Shenwei Ming's mouth twitched involuntarily; he truly didn't want to face such an opponent.

"Xiao Chun, you are the one~"

Absorbing the surrounding sounds, golden Xiao Chun and Yu Chi opened their eyes smugly, revealing a mischievous grin of triumph.

The sudden scene on the court caught everyone off guard; the dead‑serious comedy left the spectators both laughing and crying.

"Ah... huh?"

"This is the National Competition semifinals, not your Osaka comedy showcase! Hey!"

Splash~

Tied behind Yu Chi's head, the two ribbons securing his red eye patches fluttered high backward in the biting wind.

It was his first time meeting such a bizarre opponent; for a brief moment, he wanted to rush over, grab the two guys by the collar, and scold them.

"Sss"

At the same time, Xiao Chun, perched daintily behind him, peeked out and saw that Ji Le Jing Xing's expression remained unchanged.

Even Neicun Jingjie, focused on the match, couldn't help but want to stomp and heckle those two oddballs, yet he didn't realize his attention had already been unintentionally diverted.

"Yu Chi, your dignified look just now was so cool~ LOVE~"

"Hmph."

Seeing this technique similar to that of Yuan Zheye, Yiwu Shen Si's complexion grew even colder.

"Finally starting to show your real skill!"

His cold gaze swept over the two; Ji Le Jing Xing seemed completely unaffected by them.

"Hehe, comedy reigns!"

"Don't underestimate our comedy!"

"What did you say!?! \" \"What did you say!?!"

Hearing that, golden Xiao Chun and Yu Chi suddenly abandoned their comedic demeanor, their faces turning extremely serious.

The match continued.

Golden Xiao Chun and Yu Chi of the Four Heavenly Treasure Temple kept trying to provoke Ji Le Jing Xing's emotions, performing absurd acts that made everyone both laugh and cringe, even cracking cold jokes while receiving and serving the ball.

However, none of this affects Ji Le Jing Xing, who is naturally high‑laugh‑point; not only does his comedic offense fail to earn points, but because he spends too much effort on jokes, his score keeps being taken by Budongfeng.

Boom!

"Budongfeng Middle School Ji Le Jing Xing scores, 40‑0!"

Boom!

"game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Ji Le Jing Xing, 2‑1!"

"Please have both players exchange courts."

Boom!

On the court, the golden Xiao Chun's afro wig had long since fallen off, leaving only a bun‑style wig; three long black strands paired with his bald head made anyone who saw him burst into laughter.

"It's time to go, Yu Ci~"

"Come on, Xiao Chun~"

At that moment, the two came up with a new plan: after striking the tennis ball, they would sprint from both sides toward the net.

In the blink of an eye they reached the net, and the sudden acceleration made Neicun Jingjie glance sideways.

But he no longer held any expectations for the two guys.

"Probably they're going to pull some trick again."

Yet the next scene unfolded exactly as he expected: the two had no intention of actually playing tennis.

Xiao Chun and Yu Ci tipped up on their toes, their bodies simultaneously flipping forward in the air.

Then a perfectly synchronized set of moves unfolded.

Snap! Snap!

One hand planted on the ground, the right foot hooked up, the left leg straight up toward the sky.

Their motions resembled two swans extending their necks on the water surface; amid the outright silliness there was a hint of elegance and beauty.

Such a bizarre harmony truly left everyone astonished.

"Wow— it's water ballet!! We're definitely going to score!"

Only the people from the Four Heavens Treasure Temple, who were already used to them, roared with laughter at the performance and cheered loudly.

However, this clearly had no effect on Ji Le Jing Xing.

Boom!

Completely indifferent to their act, Ji Le Jing Xing remained very calm and directly hit a high lob, pulling the tennis ball into a tall arc, giving the two at the net no chance.

Tap tap

When Xiao Chun and Yu Ci bounced up from the ground, ready to seize the chance to ambush the opponent distracted by the water ballet, the tennis ball had already bounced twice in the backcourt, rolling weakly on the floor.

"Game, Budongfeng Middle School Neicun Jingjie, Ji Le Jing Xing, 3‑1!"

"Xiao Chun and Yu Ci actually couldn't get the opponent to follow their rhythm and dance?"

Cai Qian Guang's mouth twitched; it was his first time seeing the senior's tennis ball completely ignored—there was not even a sense of humor, let alone any urge to make a snarky comment.

"Just like that, the comedic tennis loses all effect, and the match situation will remain firmly under Budongfeng's control."

"Cai Qian, you've been in the tennis club too short; they aren't just about comedy!"

Bai Shi crossed his arms, and even though Xiao Chun and Yu Ci's score was already far behind, he showed no sign of anxiety.

"Even if they're not just comedic, these two guys are playing way too wildly, huh~"

Having said that, Yuan Zhe beside him couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Without reaching the level where spiritual power subtly guides the opponent, comedy finds it hard to earn high laughs, especially from naturally indifferent people.

So he shouted loudly at the two on the court.

"Since your comedy lacks weight, then play properly for me! Bastard!"

The shout echoed onto the court.

Neicun Jingjie's expression shifted slightly, his gaze fixed, hearing that, did the opponent have other tricks?

"I won't give you any chance!"

He immediately took two strides forward, blocking the path of the incoming tennis ball; his eyes casually swept over the net, gauging the height difference between it and the ball.

Boom!

In his mind, the racket deftly snapped toward the ball, a sharp yellow flash seeming to aim at the right side of the front court, but in fact it rushed straight at the net.

"Score!"

Sen Chende, watching from the sidelines, thought to himself that given the two opponents' current positions, it would be hard for them to cope with a sudden trajectory change.

But at that moment, an unusually serious voice sounded from the opposite side of the net.

"Allow me to ask, does this ball tend to hit the edge of the net?"

"!"

Hearing that, Neicun Jingjie was startled instantly, raising his eyes to look.

But he saw the ever‑joking golden Xiao Chun now wearing a serious expression, his steps interweaving as he swiftly changed position.

"With a reverse spin upward, and maintaining half a tennis ball's contact area with the white edge of the net, during impact the upward rotational change makes this net‑hit ball almost never go out."

"At the same time, the net's interference causes the ball to deviate 45 degrees toward the left."

"And that, is what is called a net‑hit interception shot!"

After finishing the explanation, golden Xiao Chun moved to a spot in front of the net to wait, and at that moment the tennis ball happened to strike the white edge of the net.

Splat!

And indeed, as he said, the ball gave a slight bounce at the edge and veered 45 degrees to the left.

"Got you!"

Boom!

He gripped the racket with both hands, leapt into the air and snapped a stroke; his skinny little body delivered a shot that left Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing unable to react.

It wasn't that the speed was too fast, but that the ball caught them in a blind spot.

Boom!

Since that shot, the Four Heavens Treasure Temple duo finally gave up the comedic tennis and launched an all‑out attack.

Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing made many attempts, but each time Golden Xiaochun accurately anticipated their next move and seized their blind spots for a fierce assault.

For a moment, the score was unexpectedly turned back by Four Heavens Treasure Temple.

"Xiaochun's amount of information isn't just detailed; it's not written in a notebook, it's all stored in his head."

Shiraishi lightly touched the bandage on his left hand, and a faint cool smile passed through his calm eyes.

"His IQ is as high as 200—that's what they call a genius!"

Boom!

Another cunning arc flew between Neicun Jingjie and Ji Le Jing Xing, causing both of them to freeze, their racket heads slamming into the ground with two crisp sounds.

"Game, Four Heavens Treasure Temple Golden Xiaochun, Yishi Yuchi, 2‑3!"

"Please have both sides exchange courts."

"They say you can't judge a book by its cover, yet this guy who looks gay is actually a 200‑IQ genius! In other words…"

"…this guy's homework can score perfect marks in every subject!"

Shenwei Ming couldn't accept it; his own homework is barely passing.

No, now's not the time to think about that!

"If that guy truly is a genius, the current situation is extremely unfavorable for Neicun and his team!"

Shenwei Ming's eyes grew anxious as he looked at Jiecheng Wu beside him, his tone carrying a hint of worry.

After all, this is already the second match.

If we lose again, Budongfeng will drop two points.

"Is that really the case?"

Jiecheng Wu's mouth twitched slightly, showing no anxiety over the current situation, still brimming with confidence.

Seeing his carefree demeanor, Shenwei Ming gradually ceased his anxiety, his heart calming.

On the court.

"So it's a 200‑IQ genius after all."

Tuning out the surrounding chatter, Neicun Jingjie paused briefly, then turned his head to meet Ji Le Taizao's gaze.

"So, a genius indeed."

The two locked eyes, and an inexplicable smile appeared on their faces, as if they had finally encountered something they'd long awaited.

"A genius? Too bad we play *the* genius!"

Boom!

Yishi Yuchi leapt, his racket flashing coldly as he, following Xiaochun's cue, precisely struck the tennis ball toward the near‑outside corner.

However, this shot clearly couldn't score a point on serve.

Ji Le Jing Xing reacted swiftly; before the ball hit the ground, he took several strides to the landing spot and executed a backhand snap.

"Classmate Ji Le Jing Xing, Budongfeng Middle School Junior High Year 1, Class 6, born November 21, blood type A, trained since childhood by his father, a former professional player, confident he can finish a match without sweating.

Since he was very young, he placed great expectations on himself, yet due to some unknown cause, he has always suffered from obvious emotional disorders,

The characteristic is:

Whenever he sweats, he uncontrollably feels anxious, leading to thoughts of abandoning the match—"

"—Hey?!"

"Is it because of this emotional disorder that you dislike the comedy of me and Yuchi?"

Golden Xiaochun, who had been analyzing seriously, suddenly seemed to discover a startling truth, a look of sudden enlightenment spreading across his face.

Then, tap tap.

He took two steps without watching the ball's trajectory, marching straight toward the left half‑court, and by the time he arrived, the tennis ball was flying perfectly toward him.

"In short, I mean your information is fully stored in my mind, and this ball's path will inevitably head right here!"

Boom!

The tennis ball bounced back like a fledgling returning to its nest, hitting the racket; Golden Xiaochun angled it toward the opposite baseline.

"You've mastered all our information? Really?!"

"Of course, how could I lie?"

Hearing the doubt, Golden Xiaochun instinctively showed a shy expression, but when he looked up, Neicun Jingjie had somehow already caught up with the speeding ball.

"!?"

"Surprised?!"

The tennis ball surged forward; Neicun Jingjie appeared like a shadow before it, his eyes flashing cold confidence, unwavering and fixed on the flying ball.

At that moment, the image of Senior Jiecheng guiding him during the training camp flashed in his mind.

"Want to execute a half‑volley as fast as lightning?

It's actually not difficult.

As long as you can overcome your fear of the ball, even against a fierce attack, you can accurately track its changes with your eyes.

After that, it's simple.

It just requires countless, single‑minded swings, integrating the volley motion into your body's instinct.

Thus, delivering a lightning‑fast volley is no longer a difficulty."

After saying that, Senior Jiecheng didn't leave; instead, he took out a roll of novice glue and handed it to himself:

Neicun, although the board indeed has pieces of various identities, the rules are, however, definite.

As long as one is on the board, no matter what identity the piece has, it can fulfill its function.

Even if it is an ordinary pawn,

after crossing the river, it can also kill the general!

Whether one successfully crosses the river, or fails to cross and falls into the rapid river,

as long as you step onto the court, I believe you will have no hesitation at all and will surely make the correct choice.

So, convey this courage to your partner!

And at this moment.

Neicun Jingjie tightly gripped the racket wrapped with new grip tape, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "Now is the time for me to cross the river!"

Lightning half-strike!!

With a low roar in his heart, the racket in his hand swung out like lightning.

Smack!

The tennis ball had just left the ground by the distance of one ball, and the racket, flickering with several faint electric arcs, had already arrived.

The speed was so fast that people could hardly react.

Boom!

With a crisp sound, a blue electric arc suddenly burst forth on the court.

Behind the lenses, the golden little spring eyes were wide open.

But even so, all that was seen was a flash of electric light; the tennis ball vanished, leaving only a wisp of faint blue smoke rising on the court.

"Budongfeng Middle School's Neicun Jingjie scores, 0-15."

The referee's voice fell, as the middle finger pushed up the slipping glasses frame, and the golden little spring's expression finally became solemn.

"What a fast half-strike! This is a tennis beyond the intel..."