Chapter 26: I ask, when are you going to stop pretending?

15-0!

Seeing this serve, Ren Zu You Shi was stunned for a full two seconds before reacting, then quickly announced the score.

This is much faster than Ootori Choutaro's heavy cannon serve.

Ren Zu You Shi made a silent judgment.

The Ice Emperor's previous generation leader, Atobe Keigo, was renowned nationwide for his ultra‑fast serves, his Mach‑level serve considered unbeatable.

In their generation, the coach still had no intention of abandoning the cultivation of heavy‑cannon servers.

When first‑year Ootori Choutaro joined the club, his height far surpassing his peers caught Coach Sakaki's eye at once.

However, Kitagawa Wu's recent serve was far faster than Ootori Choutaro could match.

But Ji Bu is not the kind of guy to be cut down at will.

Reflected sunlight flashed on the lenses; regarding his own king, Ren Zu You Shi had absolute confidence.

Boom!

Another explosive crack!

A white flash surged, and the spectators outside could not see the tennis ball at all.

Until a "Kuang" sound rang out.

They then realized the tennis ball had smashed into the green wire fence surrounding the court.

30-0!

As soon as Ren Zu You Shi's voice faded, members of the Ice Emperor Tennis Club let out a chorus of gasps.

That guy actually kept hitting ACEs off Ji Bu's racket?!

Your speed isn't bad, is it.

Watching Jiecheng Wu get into match mode, Ji Bu maintained a leisurely aristocratic smile, seeming unfazed by the recent lost point.

Third ball.

Jiecheng Wu tossed the ball up, jumped, and swung!

The motion flowed in one breath.

At the instant the racket struck, a burst rang out in the air, and the tennis ball turned into a streak of light racing away.

The crowd outside could still only see a flash of white, unable to locate the ball's shadow.

"Got it!" Ji Bu's sharp aura flared.

In his eyes, the pale‑yellow ball shadow was landing in the right‑hand corner of the service box, about to bounce—

Boom!

Ji Bu seemed to appear instantly at the right end of the baseline, shoulders and hips shifting, delivering a powerful forehand smash.

The tennis ball, with heavy topspin, shot straight at Jiecheng Wu's forehand side.

Jiecheng Wu didn't panic; he knew deep down that a single serve could never stop Ji Bu.

Swish!

Like a leopard, his movement, filled with Wildness, had Jiecheng Wu spring forward instantly.

Boom!

No less powerful than Ji Bu's, the tennis ball surged ferociously toward the opposite court.

"Oh, a diagonal strike this time?" Regarding Jiecheng Wu's move, Ji Bu seemed already aware.

His figure, like a phantom, appeared at the net in an instant.

He held his rackets at his waist, used the momentum of a charge, thrust his right foot hard, leapt high, and pressed the racket forward with his body's weight.

This is—

Center‑gravity vertical jump technique!

Boom!

An explosive crack sounded at Jiecheng Wu's feet.

30-15!

"Don't get too obsessed with my skills, you guys!"

Ji Bu spread his arms, smiling; under the sun, the king on the court shone brilliantly.

"So strong!"

Shenwei Ming's lips trembled slightly, and in his mind the words Jiecheng Wu had once told him rang out.

"Is this the tennis player whose strength surpasses mine and whose speed is even faster?"

How on earth can I defeat such an opponent?"

He racked his brain but could not devise an answer.

"Senior Jiecheng, what would you do?"

Snap! Snap! Snap!

The tennis ball tapped the ground a few times.

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the white flash on the court reappeared, a notch faster than before.

But

"I've already seen through this ball!"

Step. Step.

Ji Bu intercepted the ball's trajectory, adjusted his steps, swung a backhand, and the tennis ball flew into Jiecheng Wu's opening.

The violent spin adds a powerful force, tracing a path like a banana, its dazzling exterior hiding deadly danger.

This is the flamboyant ball technique belonging to Ji Bu.

Ssh—

His right foot stomps hard, and his sprinting figure leaves two streaks on the court.

The racket tilts slightly, and Jiecheng Wu executes a slicing strike, from top to bottom, from back to front.

Bang!

The tennis ball's topspin instantly flips into backspin and is lofted out in a smash.

Shenwei Ming's eyes brighten.

The backspin ball bounces lower and travels a shorter distance; this spot—

Ji Bu can't reach it!

Tap tap

Rapid footsteps quickly sound.

Far exceeding Shenwei Ming's expectations, Ji Bu not only makes it in time but also appears at the net.

A flamboyant grin spreads across his face as he swings the racket forcefully.

Bang!

A net‑front smash!!!

The tennis ball is blasted back before it even hits the ground, a chilling momentum spreading with it.

This is the caliber of national‑level players; their tennis has become a system.

Speed! Power! Technique! Stamina! Spirit!

There's almost no blind spot!

Shenwei Ming is instantly at a loss for words, his heart feeling as if struck repeatedly.

The speed he's always boasted about is nothing but a joke before these two.

However, a move that's unsolvable for Shenwei Ming is not impressive when faced with Jiecheng Wu.

Swoosh!

Besides his superhuman serve speed, Jiecheng Wu's footwork speed is equally astounding.

He's like an arrow released from a bow, appearing instantly and swinging his racket to intercept!

Bang!

But at the instant the tennis ball contacts the racket, a massive force erupts, traveling from the racket to his right hand.

Whoa~

Jiecheng Wu remains composed, adjusting in time as his racket dips downward.

Thud.

He steps back a beat, bends his knees slightly, and lets the fierce force bleed off the racket.

Unfortunately, in his haste the racket's angle inevitably shifts.

He can only go with the mistake, flicking the ball upward.

In the next instant.

A figure suddenly appears in the air, a pale‑purple racket whooshing down.

Bang!

A powerful smash comes toward the handle of the racket in Jiecheng Wu's hand.

A flash of steel appears in Jiecheng Wu's eyes as his racket moves downward with his right hand.

He frees the handle from its locked position and lets the racket face catch the tennis ball.

Yet the fierce force still jolts his right hand, and the tennis ball rebounds into the air.

Ji Bu leaps again, a cold glint in his eyes, the court seemingly frozen in his gaze for a moment.

Second smash!

"Make sure you remember this master's waltz 'March Toward Ruin'!"

Boom—

As the tennis ball thunders onto the ground, this rapidly shifting point finally decides its outcome.

"If you're looking for blame, blame yourself for lobbing that high ball in front of me!"

The crowd on the court is thrilled.

Spectators off the court stare in amazement.

Even a flash‑of‑light clash already dazzles the eyes.

If anyone else were on the court now, they'd probably not survive a single rally.

"30‑30!"

Ren Zu You Shi promptly announces the score.

"To make Ji Bu treat it so seriously.

Speed, reaction, technique—all first‑class level."

He looks at Jiecheng Wu on the court, unable to hide his amazement.

"But the control of the match is already in Ji Bu's hands."

…

"Bang!"

"Game, Ji Bu Jingwu, 1‑0."

Bang!

Game, Ji Bu Jingwu, 2-0.

……

Bang!

Game, Ji Bu Jingwu, 3-0.

……

The strength you displayed doesn't match your aura!

Ji Bu stared deeply at Jiecheng Wu, as if trying to see right through him.

But Jiecheng Wu merely flicked his right hand, not responding to Ji Bu's mental assault.

However, as the swing's amplitude changed, his sleeve retracted backward by a notch.

This is...?

At that moment, Ji Bu's pupils contracted, and his complexion changed abruptly.

A voice filled with bone‑piercing coldness rang out across the court.

I say.

How long are you going to keep pretending!?

Hearing that, Jiecheng Wu's body froze, his right hand slowly lowered, and a helpless expression appeared on his face.

Ah, you discovered it.

He looked up toward the opposite side; at that moment Ji Bu's left hand was loosely covering his eyes, a faint glow flickered on his eerie tear mole, and in his deep blue pupils a suppressed flame of anger burned.

Finally made it, my waist and back ache, I'm dead tired.

And after staying up this long, my face got oily, and two more pimples popped up.

Staying up gives pimples, painful—

(End of chapter)