Volume One: Our Own League 134: Xu He Conquers Them Through Sheer Skill

By the time these tests drew to a close, the sky had already darkened. There was a vast amount of off-the-ball testing to cover, and completing it all in half a day was an achievement in itself. Fortunately, Xu He and his group were positioned well, finishing among the earlier batches. Even so, it was already evening by the time they wrapped up.

They couldn't go home immediately; they had to wait for everyone else to finish so the coaching staff could formally dismiss them. Xu He and his peers sat on the sidelines, waiting for the process to conclude.

Zhu Ge looked over at Xu He and remarked, "I had no idea your physical fitness was this impressive. You’ve truly stunned me!"

The others chimed in, agreeing with Zhu Ge. They had been training together for quite some time, yet they had never sensed that Xu He’s overall physical condition was this exceptional. It was a classic case of not knowing until it was put to the test—the results were startling.

Today, Xu He had truly made a name for himself. He could certainly be ranked among the top athletes at Jingguan City No. 17 Middle School. He might even be in the top five among all first-year students, or if one were feeling bold, perhaps even the top three. While everyone knew top three might be a stretch, top five was a genuine possibility.

For once, Xu He was modest. "Heh, I didn't expect it either," he said.

It was the truth. Previously, Xu He only knew he was fast—among the best at school—but he hadn't felt particularly strong in other areas. Today’s testing, however, revealed just how capable he really was. Though he appeared somewhat lean, he possessed genuine muscle. His physical resilience in duels was solid, and while his strength wasn't necessarily world-class, it was certainly in the elite tier. Today, Xu He had gained a much clearer understanding of his own body.

Suddenly, Li Jie asked, "Old Xu, you haven't been sneaking off to the gym behind my back, have you?"

Li Jie knew Xu He’s speed well, but he had never realized Xu He possessed such power and physical toughness. He was convinced this guy must have been training in secret. The others turned to look at Xu He as well.

Xu He shook his head immediately. "You know my family situation; how could I afford a gym membership? I don't even know where the entrance is!"

Li Jie nodded slightly; that was the truth. The others, seeing Li Jie’s reaction, knew Xu He wasn't giving them the runaround.

Zhu Ge pressed on, "If you don't go to the gym, how did you get like this?" Despite his lean appearance, once the shirt came off, Xu He had defined muscles and even visible abs. Everyone was dying to know his secret.

"I just practice soccer and help out around the house, moving things and doing chores," Xu He replied. "I've never done any systematic physical training."

It was the honest truth, but Zhu Ge and the others remained skeptical. How could he have such impressive muscle without training? Was he holding out on them?

Xu He laughed bitterly. "I really haven't!"

Li Jie nodded again, stepping in. "I believe him. Old Xu has worked odd jobs at construction sites during his holidays, hasn't he? Maybe that’s why his fitness is so good."

It was true; Xu He had spent time moving bricks at construction sites after graduating from primary school. During holidays, he would occasionally go to these sites to hang out or help out, as his uncle worked there. The group finally understood.

As they chatted, the day’s assessment finally concluded. Yangtong Mingxiong gathered everyone together. "Today's tests have given us a preliminary understanding of your physical fitness. Thank you for your cooperation; I apologize for taking up your time."

The students politely thanked the coaches in return.

Yangtong Mingxiong continued, "It’s late, so I won't drag this out. Today was just a baseline test, and no one is being eliminated yet. However, some of you are already in a dangerous position because your physical fitness simply isn't up to par."

At these words, those who had performed poorly grew tense. Xu He couldn't help but look at the coach; if there were no cuts today, the pressure in the coming stages would be immense.

In truth, Yangtong Mingxiong had initially planned to cut a large group today, as some students were clearly not suited for soccer. However, these were ordinary students without professional training. He wanted to give them more opportunities to showcase themselves. Perhaps some had poor fitness but brilliant ball skills? He decided to be patient.

"In tomorrow's assessment, those of you who didn't perform well today need to step it up," Yangtong Mingxiong warned. "Tomorrow, we begin eliminations—and we will be cutting a significant number of people. About seventy percent of you will be sent home."

A collective gasp echoed across the field. Even Xu He felt a surge of nerves. Though he was confident he wouldn't be cut, the atmosphere was undeniably intense.

"Yes, you heard me correctly," Yangtong Mingxiong added. "We will have assessments tomorrow as well. You are expected to be back on this field. There is no weekend break for you!"

The students were struck by the realization: their weekend was gone. The news that they would be spending Saturday and Sunday in trials caused a wave of disappointment. They had spent the whole week looking forward to their time off, only to have those plans shattered.

Though the darkness hid their faces, Yangtong Mingxiong could imagine their resentment. "I know many of you are unhappy that I've taken your holiday. If you feel your weekend is more important than this, feel free not to show up tomorrow. The school team has no place for people like you!"

Xu He and the others drew a sharp breath. It was a chilling ultimatum.

Of course, Xu He wouldn't dream of missing it. His dream was to join the school team and compete in the national tournament; nothing was more important. A weekend was a small price to pay, and he usually spent his free time training anyway. However, he could tell that others were having second thoughts.

Some likely realized their chances of making the team—with only twenty spots for hundreds of applicants—were slim to none. It was a logical choice to walk away. Yangtong Mingxiong was well aware that his words would drive many to quit, but that suited him—it would make the subsequent assessments much easier to manage.

"That is all for today," Yangtong Mingxiong concluded. "Report to the school field at 9:00 AM sharp tomorrow. Make sure you are here before nine. Understood?"

"Understood!" the group roared.

Yangtong Mingxiong glanced at Principal Wang, who simply shook his head, signaling he would not interfere. Satisfied, Yangtong Mingxiong shouted, "Dismissed!"

The students scattered, rushing home as it was quite late; some even saw their parents waiting anxiously at the school gate. Xu He headed straight home without lingering. After enduring an interrogation from his mother, Tang Qian, and explaining it was a school activity, he was finally let off the hook, though not before receiving a lecture about being home on time.

After dinner, Xu He tried calling Mu Yang to find out why he had quit the selection process. Mu Yang was incredibly talented, and Xu He had been looking forward to playing alongside him. Unfortunately, Mu Yang didn't answer. The next morning, Xu He still had no news from Zhu Ge, who had also been unable to reach him.

The mystery of Mu Yang’s departure remained.

The following day, the selection process moved on to ball-handling tests. These were meant to evaluate basic skills, which was arguably more critical than physical fitness. This round promised to be a massive cull, potentially eliminating half the remaining candidates or more.

Xu He and the others grew serious, determined not to make any mistakes that could cost them their spot. He had cleared his mind and was ready, knowing he would be under the coaches' microscope after his stellar performance the previous day.

He was prepared to give his all, to reveal his full potential and prove to the coaches that he was an essential addition to the team. He was going to conquer them with his skill.