Chapter 29

At the start, everyone present dismissed Fudou Peak Middle School, believing Da Wu Su Middle School had a guaranteed win.

Yet throughout the entire match, Fudou Peak Middle School secured victory in less than an hour, winning all five matches.

The final score was 5–0; in both singles and doubles, it was almost a complete domination.

Even when Fudou Peak Middle School’s team left the court, the spectators—including their opponents from Da Wu Su Middle School—were completely stunned.

“Senior, aside from Shengzai Wen, the other players from Fudou Peak Middle School are also remarkably strong.”

Shisha Zhi, though a tennis novice, could clearly see this match was a total domination by Fudou Peak Middle School.

“Hmm, Fudou Peak Middle School has truly transformed. This year’s regional qualifiers will be far more intense than before.”

After watching the match, Qian Zhengzhi quietly closed his notebook and returned to the Seigaku gathering point.

Their next match against Yulin Middle School was about to begin.

“Qian, weren’t you collecting intelligence at Fudou Peak Middle School’s match?”

“I understand why Xiao BuDian and Tao Cheng came back because they had matches—but why did you return so quickly?”

Seeing the three return, Kikumaru couldn’t help but ask curiously.

“The match at Fudou Peak is over.”

Hearing Fudou Peak’s match had ended, everyone from Seigaku immediately asked for the result.

“5–0. Da Wu Su, last year’s quarterfinalist, was utterly crushed by Fudou Peak.”

Whether in singles or doubles, their players’ skill levels are all high.”

Leaving aside the doubles pair for now, the two second-year singles players appear just as strong and talented as Ryoma and Tao Cheng.”

Fudou Peak’s singles one captain finished his match in just fifteen minutes, winning every game without losing a single point.”

In my view, Fudou Peak’s captain’s level is on par with Tezuka and Fuji—because both of you left me completely unable to read you.”

Qian Zhengzhi’s words left everyone at Seigaku stunned; they all knew his personality well and understood he never spoke without reason.

For Qian to give Fudou Peak Middle School such high praise meant they were truly Seigaku’s fiercest rival this year.

“What about that second-year who beat Senior Tao Cheng? Is his strength also on par with Senior Fuji and the others?”

First-years Horio and Tomoka, as if remembering something crucial, turned back to ask Qian again.

“Shengzai Wen from Fudou Peak Middle School did not compete in this match—he was held as a substitute.”

Probably their captain deliberately concealed this ace’s existence.”

But considering how effortlessly he defeated Tao Cheng, his strength may even surpass the other two second-year singles players.”

Undoubtedly, the intelligence Qian brought back instantly increased the pressure on Seigaku’s team.

Originally, they expected their main rival this year to be last year’s strong opponent Shigaki Middle School—but now Fudou Peak had emerged.

And in fact, Qian’s intuition proved correct: in the following matches, Fudou Peak Middle School swept through opponents with overwhelming force.

Like a dark horse, they stormed into the semifinals, then crushed last year’s regional runner-up Shigaki Middle School 3–0 with near-total domination.

Starting from the semifinals, matches no longer required all five matches to be played—only the first team to win three matches advanced.

In the match against Shigaki Middle School, Fudou Peak’s doubles two, Shi Tian and Sakurai, won 6–2.

Doubles one, the ace pair of Shengzai and Tachibana, won 6–0 without any doubt.

Singles three, Shinji faced Shigaki’s ace Kuki, but Shigaki still lost 6–2 in a humiliating defeat.

When Fudou Peak actually reached the finals, every school in the region was stunned—because they had never heard the name Fudou Peak Middle School before.

“Hey, hey, hey, do you think Seigaku can still win the regional championship this year?”

“Of course they can! Seigaku makes it to the Kanto Tournament every year!”

“Compared to that, Fudou Peak Middle School just got lucky. Even as a dark horse, they can’t keep winning all the way!”

“But they beat Shigaki Middle School—I think this final might be more uncertain than we thought.”

“What uncertainty? Shigaki Middle School lost to Seigaku every year before.”

Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Xiao Xing, holding a soda, smiled to herself: “Looks like everyone still favors Seigaku.”

“But once they see Fudou Peak’s true strength, they’ll be shocked.”

Because Fudou Peak’s strength far exceeded expectations, Kanzaki Jin specifically called Tezuka and Qian to discuss the lineup.

Soon, the official match roster appeared in the hands of every Seigaku regular.

Seigaku’s doubles one remained the unshakable “Golden Pair”: Kikumaru and Oishi.

For doubles two, Kanzaki Jin had a novel idea: pairing the incompatible Tao Cheng and Kaoru, hoping for an unexpected synergy.

Originally, Kanzaki Jin had planned to assign Fuji and Kurobane to doubles two.

But considering Fudou Peak’s strong singles players, placing Fuji in doubles would be a waste of talent.

After discussion, Kanzaki Jin and Tezuka decided to assign Fuji to singles two.

They believed this position would most likely face either Shengzai Wen or Fudou Peak’s captain.

Ryoma had always wanted to challenge Shengzai, but Kanzaki Jin and Tezuka both felt Ryoma might not yet be strong enough to defeat him.

To secure victory for the team, they had to guarantee wins—so Ryoma was ultimately assigned to singles three, while Tezuka once again held the final card as singles one.

Only Kanzaki Jin knew about Tezuka’s elbow injury, so if possible, she wanted to minimize his burden.

Frankly speaking, Seigaku’s lineup had no flaws—but unfortunately, Fudou Peak had Shengzai, the transmigrator, who had already anticipated their anticipation.

According to the original plot, Shengzai remembered Fudou Peak losing to Seigaku 1–3.

Doubles two, Shi Tian’s “Wave Ball” forced Fuji and Kurobane to forfeit.

Doubles one lost to Seigaku’s Golden Pair; singles three, Shinji was worn down by Kaoru’s endurance, who accidentally landed a “Spin Snake Ball.”

Singles two, Shinji versus Ryoma: his temporary paralysis was terrifying, nearly blinding Ryoma—but he ultimately lost under psychological pressure.

(End of Chapter)