Chapter 31: Weaving the Cobweb

Yoshido team, dressed in black uniforms with red and white text reading "Yoshido" and their numbers below, proudly entered the stadium. The air was thick with anticipation and excitement, and the stands were already filling with spectators ready to support their favorites. The club manager, San Liu, with a serious expression, gathered the team around him.

"Alright, guys," San Liu began, "today we have an important match. The Shindzu team is no pushover, so we need to stay alert."

"Hmm, not bad," Ming You replied, his voice sounding confident and indifferent. "I'm ready to crush them."

"I'm glad for your confidence, Ming You," San Liu nodded, "but remember, confidence is one thing, and results are another."

"We'll crush them," Lu Shen chimed in with a smirk. "They have no chance against us!"

"You should learn to hold the ball," Haru Lin teased him, eliciting laughter from the others.

"I'm the most experienced here!" Lu Shen retorted, but his confidence didn't seem too solid.

"Get ready," Ming You interjected, "we're going to wipe the floor with these losers."

The team nodded, taking his words as a call to action. They stepped onto the court for warm-ups, and the atmosphere intensified. Ming You, as usual, focused on analyzing the game, watching the opponents closely. The Shindzu team, dressed in blue and white uniforms, was also warming up on the other side of the court.

Players from both teams practiced their shots while chatting with each other. One of the Shindzu players, a tall forward wearing number 23, confidently sank three-pointers, drawing approving cheers from his teammates.

"You're good," said one of the Shindzu players, number 11, "Yoshido doesn't even know what's coming for them."

"I hope they aren't too cocky," replied another player, number 7, "we'll show them they don't belong in this league."

Meanwhile, the Yoshido team continued their warm-up. Hong Ren, indifferent to what was happening, simply tossed the ball into the hoop without showing much enthusiasm.

"Hey, Hong Ren," Lu Shen shouted, "are you even going to play or just stand there?"

"Yeah, don't worry," Hong Ren replied, "I'm ready to help at any moment."

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began. The Shindzu team won the tip-off. The player wearing number 23, who had just been sinking three-pointers, quickly passed the ball to his teammate wearing number 5. Haru Lin didn't react in time, and the opponent easily scored from under the basket.

"Well, Yoshido," mocked player number 5, "aren't you a bit too overconfident?"

"Go suck my dick!" Lu Shen shot back. "Just wait until we get rolling."

Player number 5 merely smirked in response.

Without wasting any time, the Yoshido team began their attack. Jung Ho, positioned on the perimeter, received a pass from Haru Lin. He looked at the defender blocking his path and quickly passed it back.

"Come on, Haru," Jung Ho shouted, "make a move!"

Haru Lin, faking the defender with a burst of speed, passed to Ming You, who was already waiting on the three-point line. Surrounded by two defenders, Ming You made a forward dash to draw attention. When he was surrounded, he skillfully passed the ball behind his back to Lu Shen, who was ready for the shot.

"Watch and learn," Lu Shen yelled, sinking the ball from the free-throw line.

"What a shot!" Haru Lin chimed in, laughing. "You still can't hold the ball, Lou!"

They quickly ran towards the basket, preparing for the next attack. The ball was back with the Shindzu team. Hong Ren, lazily stepping up to defend at Ming You's signal, allowed the opponent wearing number 11 to slip past him easily. Noticing the open space, the opponent passed to number 7, who took a quick three-pointer.

"You're such a show-off," commented the Shindzu player, "don't you want to play?"

Jung Ho smirked and replied, "Yeah, yeah."

The Yoshido team regained possession. Jung Ho passed to Haru Lin, who, under pressure from a defender, passed the ball back.

"Don't be scared," Jung Ho said, "just play!"

At that moment, Ming You signaled Jung Ho again, snapping his fingers and smiling. Jung Ho pretended to lose the ball, dropping it to the floor. The Shindzu defender, not expecting this turn, lunged for the ball, and at that moment, Jung Ho deftly sidestepped him, reclaiming the ball.

"How naive you are," he said quietly, passing to Ming You, who was already ready for a shot.

Ming You, confidently stepping up to the three-point line, once again drew the attention of the defenders. He faked a move through his legs, deceiving them, and passed sharply to Lu Shen, who was in perfect position to sink the ball through the hoop.

"That's how you play," Lu Shen exclaimed, winking at his teammates. "I told you I'm the most experienced here!"

"And the dumbest," Haru Lin reminded him, laughing.

The ball was back with the Shindzu team. Player number 23, noticing that Hong Ren was again inactive, approached the basket and dunked the ball.

"Look at us winning," he said, laughing. "You have no chance!"

Hong Ren merely shrugged, ignoring it. At that moment, Jung Ho received the ball again and, seeing that Ming You was ready, passed it to him. Ming You, as always, acted coolly, and his confidence spread to the team.

The teams continued to exchange attacks, and despite Yoshido losing points, thanks to Ming You's strategy, they maintained an ideal pace of play. The Shindzu players, unaware of their opponent's plans, continued to act actively, scoring points.

The referee's whistle sounded, marking the end of the first quarter. Both teams returned to their benches, discussing their actions and preparing for the next part of the game.

"Well, how did you find the first quarter?" San Liu began, gathering the Yoshido team around him. "You showed that you can hold your own against them, but you need to improve your defense."

"Yeah, especially against number 23," Jung Ho noted, rubbing his neck. "He gets to the basket too easily."

"That's all irrelevant," Ming You added. "Guys, didn't you notice?"

The whole team looked in his direction. Lu Shen asked in confusion, "Did something happen? Is our technique from the last training going to work now?"

While the team blinked in surprise at Ming You, he merely smirked. "Hehe, that's right. They've unknowingly walked into a trap from which they can't escape. Now, all you need to do is remember our training and use our Cobweb to its full power."

The Yoshido team, filled with determination, nodded confidently at him. Each player, with a sparkle in their eyes, recalled the training that had sharpened their tactics. They knew their strategy was not just a set of moves, but a real Cobweb woven from mutual understanding and teamwork.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the court, the Shindzu players were discussing their actions.

"We're outplaying them," said player number 12, laughing. "They don't even know how to counter us!"

"Yeah, but we shouldn't relax," replied number 5. "They have a few strong players, and they can come back into the game quickly."

"Let them try," smirked defender number 11. "We'll just wipe the floor with them in the next quarter!"

The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the second quarter. The ball was in the hands of the Yoshido team. The players took their positions, and Ming You stood at the forefront of the attack, his cold gaze scanning the court like a predator ready to pounce. Jung Ho was on the perimeter, ready for a quick pass. Lu Shen and Haru Lin were positioned on the flanks, ready for shots. Hong Ren stood indifferently in his position, observing the game.

The Yoshido team started with light passes, throwing the ball to each other. Jung Ho, receiving a pass from Ming You, quickly assessed the situation and passed the ball back. At that moment, one of the Shindzu players, number 5, saw an opportunity to intercept the ball and lunged forward. Number 5 easily intercepted the pass.

"Hey, looks like they're out of gas," he mocked, confidently holding the ball.

But then Ming You, without wasting a second, knocked the ball out of the opponent's hands and passed it to Jung Ho. Without hesitation, he dunked the ball, which erupted in cheers from the stands.

"Who's out of gas now, huh?" Lu Shen shouted, raising his arms in the air.

The ball was back with the Yoshido team. They continued to make light passes, creating a tempo that they controlled. Ming You, noticing that the Shindzu defender was distracted, pretended to pass to Haru Lin. He looked at him, then at the last moment, sharply changed direction, deceiving the defenders. It was a move that drew neither fouls nor double dribbles.

Thanks to his speed and agility, Ming You maneuvered past the defenders and, finding himself under the basket, tossed the ball, which easily passed through the hoop.

"You're so fast," commented Hong Ren, his tone indifferent, but respect shone in his eyes.

The ball was back with the Shindzu team. The players began their attack, passing the ball to each other, but they had no idea they had fallen into a trap set by Ming You. He anticipated their actions, and when one of the Shindzu players, number 11, made a pass, Ming You, like a predator, intercepted the ball.

"Hong Ren," he called, passing the ball to his teammate. Hong Ren, positioned at the three-second line, effortlessly sank the ball.

"That was too easy," Lu Shen noted with a smirk as the team returned to defense.

"What the hell!" cursed the Shindzu player wearing number 12.

"Don't worry, they can't be this fast forever," number 23 encouraged him.

The ball was back with the Shindzu team. They tried to organize their attack, but Ming You and Jung Ho, like two sentinels, pressured Shindzu's ace, number 23. He tried to break through the defense but, feeling the pressure, passed the ball. However, at that moment, Haru Lin, who had been watching the situation, unexpectedly intercepted the ball thanks to the trap set by Ming You.

"Damn, I didn't expect that!" he exclaimed, surprised by his success. He quickly sank a three-pointer, and the ball was back in the hoop.

The ball was once again in the hands of the Yoshido team. They continued to maintain a perfect pace of play, utilizing the "Cobweb" technique. Each player knew their role, creating pressure on the opponents. Ming You, like a conductor, directed the team, signaling when to make a dash and when to pass.

Jung Ho, receiving the ball, passed it to Haru Lin, who, without thinking, threw it to Ming You. Ming You, positioned at the three-point line, once again drew the attention of the defenders, and, dribbling behind his back and faking them out, passed to Lu Shen. Lu Shen, in perfect position, sank the ball through the hoop.

"We're just tearing them apart!" Jung Ho commented, winking at Lu Shen.

The Shindzu team, not expecting such pressure, tried to organize their attack, but each time they faced the agility and strategy of Yoshido. The Shindzu players began to exchange passes again, trying to find open space. However, Ming You, as if he could see through them, moved faster than the ball, anticipating their actions and intercepting the ball once more.

"You're too naive," he said with a smirk, passing to Hong Ren, who again sank the ball from the three-second zone.

Soon the ball was back with the Shindzu team. They attempted to attack, but Ming You and Jung Ho again pressured the ace of the team, denying him any maneuvering space. Player number 23, noticing he was surrounded, tried to pass, but once again unsuccessfully—the ball ended up in Hong Ren's hands.

"Is the ball just magnetically attracted to our team?" Hun quietly said, sinking another three-pointer.

The Shindzu manager could no longer bear it and approached the referee, asking for a timeout. The referee, observing the game, immediately blew the whistle after the manager's words.