Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"I want you guys to preserve your energy for the next two days but do not neglect your condition. We will not be doing any training, but there's a hotel gym. You guys can go there during the mornings to warm up your bodies."

Lina's advice as they landed in Beijing echoed in the back of his mind. It was even something that Kai significantly agreed with.

So, why was he standing in the middle of a public basketball court in Beijing, surrounded by practical strangers, instead of following her advice?

The answer lay, of course, in none other than the new side quest his system had provided.

[Tutoring class!]

[Exceed the players and show off your skills]

[+50 XP once beaten]

Kai couldn't help but shake his head, a small smirk forming on his lips.

Of course, he couldn't pass up on the chance to gain 50 XP! It was his first side quest in a while, and it would propel him to the hundredths of his current level.

Kai glanced down at himself and clicked his tongue. He didn't even bother changing into his jersey. It was a good thing he was wearing his basketball shoes this time around, though. It would be more comfortable than the game he had in the training camp.

He and the others were sitting on the bench, waiting for the court to clear. The older locals who had been playing were almost done, saying they needed only fifteen more minutes before wrapping up. So they waited, talking amongst themselves to pass the time.

"Lina's going to freak out if she sees us here," Jet said, licking the vanilla ice cream he brought around the corner.

"Not really," Shang responded. "She doesn't say much when it comes to Kai. In fact, I bet she wants to see him play this game."
Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

Kai scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit of heat rise to his face. The others nodded in agreement, making him purse his lips.

Was Lina really more lenient with him?

He actually didn't feel it. On the court, it felt like Lina gave him more work to do!

"What do you think of these guys?" Shang asked, changing the subject and nodding toward the Fujian students, who appeared to be boasting to the two other schools.

Andy shrugged, leaning back on the bench. "Jiali seems pretty nice, but he's too much of a puppy. He believes in what those four, especially Dingbang and Hong, say too much."

"Anjing is the same," Jet added. "These young preys don't know that they're feeding those guys' egos. I feel bad for them, actually."

"Let them be," Shang said with a small chuckle. "The young kids still haven't felt the wrath of reality. They're on top of the world for making it into the Nationals. They naturally want to praise the feet of those who appear higher than them. We'd be the same with those from the Elite Five."

"Not me," Jet said. "I'm the best."

Andy pursed his lips and shook his head. "I really aspire to have your ego one day."

"Thanks," Jet smiled.

"Are you going to play, Jet?" Shang asked, looking over at him.

Jet shook his head, patting his stomach. "No way, my stomach's full."

"And yet you're still eating ice cream," Kai said, shaking his head. "How about you?" he asked, turning to Andy.

"Same here," Andy added, mimicking Jet's action. "I devoured that buffet."

Kai sighed. "It's just me, then?"

"Yup," Andy replied. "It seems like not all of them are going to play either."

Just then, Dingbang called over to them from across the court. "They're done!" he shouted as the older locals finally vacated the court and headed to the benches.

"Go," Shang said, giving Kai a nod.

Kai nodded back, tightening his shoelaces before heading over to the court. As he walked, he could already feel excitement course through his veins.

On the court stood the three players from Faith Academy, including Dingbang and Hong. Jiali and Anjing were in front of them. They all looked eager, especially the latter two.

"Perfect," Hong said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's have a 3v3 while the others wait for their stomachs to settle down."

"Sure," Kai agreed, scanning the faces of the players around him.

"How are we going to divide the teams?" Kai asked, already sensing the outcome.

"Is this alright?" Dingbang asked, appearing amused, as he glanced at his Faith Academy teammates.

Kai looked at Jiali and Anjing, both of whom seemed innocent, perhaps a little too trusting. They clearly didn't see what was coming, but Kai nodded. "Sure."

Hong pursed his lips, trying to hide the smirk that threatened to spread across his face. He couldn't contain the slight glee in his voice as he spoke. "Alright," he said. "Well, as you all know, only the best are able to go to the Nationals."

"So, you have to prove that you are the best," he continued. He spoke to them like they were a group of rookies rather than fellow National competitors. Kai shook his head in amusement.

They acted like they were seasoned veterans when this was their first time at the Nationals, too.

"We, Faith Weavers, will teach you guys what it's like to play at the National level!" Dingbang proclaimed, sounding arrogant already.

"Don't feel bad if you lose," Hong added, his smirk finally breaking free as he looked at Kai.

"Of course," Kai simply said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

The Faith Weavers started dribbling the ball while Jiali and Anjing turned to Kai with determined yet accepting eyes.

"Yeah, let's not feel bad if we lose," Jiali said. "It would be strange for us, players who didn't win in our respective tournaments, to beat the three of them!"

Anjing nodded in agreement.

"Yeah," he said. "What's important is we get to learn something before the Nationals start."

"I'm just glad that I have the two of you here," he added with a wide smile.

"I'm reminded that there are players and teams like us in this competition!"

Kai's eyebrows raised in surprise.

Teams like us, huh?

There was no way that Kai would accept that, of course.