Volume One: Our Own League 167: Yangtong Mingxiong Brings Three Catfish

Xu He and the others all realized that the three individuals standing on the stage that day were undoubtedly trusted aides brought in from elsewhere by Yangtong Mingxiong, which brought immense pressure upon them.

At the same time, a sense of panic rippled through everyone.

If Yangtong Mingxiong could bring three people today, would he be able to bring thirteen, or even thirty people in the future?

If so, would there still be a place for them on the school team?

Everyone was deeply worried.

Carrying this heavy concern, they arrived at the school team's training ground that afternoon.

Naturally, Xu He and his friends were very proactive and arrived at the playground quite early. They clearly remembered one of the team rules: no late arrivals and no early departures, so coming early was a given.

When Xu He and the others reached the playground, it was already crowded with school team members clad in blue training jerseys. Xu He gave a wry smile and said, "It seems there are people even more proactive than us."

Zhuge curled his lips slightly and remarked, "What's the use of being early? Football ultimately depends on talent! Don't look at how early these people are here; they still can't surpass us. We are the backbone of the team."

Xu He smiled wryly again. Zhuge was being far too confident, with an excessively high opinion of himself.

Although Zhong Haokun was usually exceptionally confident and looked down upon everyone, upon hearing Zhuge's words today, he also curled his lip slightly, feeling that Zhuge had gone a bit too far.

Lin Xuefeng suddenly said, "Hey, what are they all gathered around and looking at?"

It was only then that Xu He and the others noticed the earlier arrivals clustered together, apparently watching something unusual.

Their curiosity instantly piqued, Xu He and the others walked over to see what was happening.

Xu He took the lead, pushing his way through the crowd to find that three guys were about to have a 100-meter race.

At first, Xu He didn't think much of it, but upon seeing the three figures at the starting line, his interest was instantly ignited. The three standing at the starting line were precisely the ones who had been on the podium yesterday, including that very striking African individual.

Seeing Xu He pause, Li Jie immediately asked from behind, "What is it, Xu He? What are they all watching?"

Xu He replied immediately, "They're racing! A hundred-meter sprint!"

Zhuge asked in confusion, "Them?"

Lin Xuefeng, Li Jie, and the others looked at Xu He with puzzled expressions, having no idea who he meant.

Without turning back, Xu He fixed his gaze intently on the three figures at the starting line and said, "Those three who were standing on the podium yesterday."

Hearing this, Li Jie and the others were startled. They quickly squeezed forward, staring intently at the three men on the starting line. Clearly, they were just as curious and wanted to witness the true strength of these three "catfish."

Zhuge looked coldly at the trio and said, "Aren't these three guys a bit too arrogant?"

Before Xu He and his friends could say anything, the earlier arrivals nearby were already exclaiming in shock, "Damn, isn't that black guy way too fast? Is that guy from the same hometown as Usain Bolt? Holy crap, that speed he just showed could completely crush all of us!"

Another person cried out, "That's practically a black lightning bolt! Who could possibly outrun him?"

Someone else chimed in, "Who do you guys think these three really are? Could they truly be catfish brought in by Coach Yangtong from a professional team's youth academy? If so, how are we supposed to survive here?"

Another added, "I'm willing to bet these three are straight from a professional youth squad. Coach Yangtong brought them here to crush our morale and put us in our place."

A worried voice muttered, "F***, can we even compete with that? Does this mean our school team is going to be packed entirely with players washed out from professional youth training systems from now on?"

Hiss!

Many gasped, feeling a chill of anxiety for their own futures.

At the same time, a surge of rebellion and anger flared up in many hearts. They felt that what Yangtong Mingxiong was doing was blatantly cheating—bringing in a bunch of ringers who weren't even students of their school to join the team was a direct insult to campus football.

They even found the situation somewhat ridiculous, with some considering whether they should just quit the school team altogether.

The complexions of Xu He and the others were far from pleasant, and the looks they cast at the three men became distinctly hostile.

However, the trio at the starting line completely ignored these glares, not caring in the least. Perhaps they simply didn't deign to notice ordinary students like Xu He and his peers; in their arrogant eyes, there was no room for anyone else.

The three flashed a disdainful smile toward Xu He's group, their eyes filled with utter contempt.

Then, they bent down, readying themselves for the 100-meter dash.

Xu He stared coldly at the three. He wanted to see just how fast they really were—just how formidable they thought they were to be this arrogant and insufferably haughty.

Zhuge sneered, "These three are way too arrogant, completely full of themselves!"

Li Jie gave a cold hum. "Let them act all high and mighty for now. In a moment, our Lao Xu will wipe the floor with their faces anyway. In any case, I refuse to believe they can outrun Lao Xu!"

Lin Xuefeng also scoffed, "Psh, these guys aren't even fit to carry Xu He's shoes!"

Hearing Li Jie and the others, the early arrivals nearby echoed, "Yeah, these guys are simply blind to their own limitations. Can they really outrun Xu He? Ridiculous. Just wait until they get slapped in the face."

Everyone looked at the trio with thinly veiled contempt, their eyes full of mockery.

It was evident that all the students of Jinguancheng No. 17 High School had formed a united front, even if many of them were not yet acquainted. Yet, they rallied together as one against an external threat.

They all firmly believed that Xu He was the absolute best!

When it came to speed, no one could surpass Xu He.

For these three to try and flex their speed to intimidate them—hadn't they simply walked right into the crosshairs?

Xu He didn't overtly show contempt, but the look in his eyes toward the three was far from friendly. The trio was indeed overly arrogant, showing utter disdain for the entire Jinguancheng No. 17 High School, and that was something he could not tolerate.

Xu He intended to see for himself just how fast these fellows truly were.

Right at that moment, the referee blew the whistle, and the three at the starting line shot forward like a trio of released arrows, leaping away with astonishing speed.

Naturally, the fastest among them was that streak of black lightning.

It was truly blindingly fast. The spectators on the scene gasped, their eyes widening in shock. No wonder this guy was so arrogant—it turned out he actually had the goods to back it up.

The black runner's stride frequency was incredibly high, accompanied by powerful strides that truly carried a hint of Usain Bolt's shadow. The students of Jinguancheng No. 17 High School furrowed their brows in unison, feeling a tangible sense of pressure. These guys certainly lived up to their reputation as products of professional youth training.

Instantly, they couldn't help but mentally compare this black runner against Xu He, calculating in their minds who would win in a showdown.

Li Jie's brows were tightly knitted as he, too, felt a heavy wave of pressure.

Reluctant as he was to admit defeat, Li Jie had to acknowledge that the black runner's speed was genuinely terrifying. He would likely pose a real threat to Xu He, wouldn't he?

He began to feel uncertain—who was faster, Xu He or this black athlete?

Lin Xuefeng wasn't faring any better, silently sweating for Xu He. He felt that this black runner was undeniably a formidable rival for Xu He.

Everyone unconsciously turned their gazes toward Xu He, eager to read his expression.

Xu He kept his eyes locked on the black runner tearing down the track. To be honest, the runner's speed exceeded his expectations, proving faster than he had imagined. He could feel a degree of pressure, but he wasn't afraid, nor did he believe he would lose.

Consequently, Xu He's expression remained relatively relaxed.

The others, however, were not nearly as at ease as Xu He, convinced as they were that the runner's blistering speed might well surpass Xu He's.

As expected, people of African descent were naturally gifted runners—it was an innate racial talent that Xu He surely couldn't match.

A wave of dejection washed over them, as if their entire school had just been crushed.

After crossing the finish line, the black runner immediately threw his arms out, roaring in triumph with a look of supreme disdain, treating everyone else as beneath him in a display of ultimate arrogance.

This left the students of Jinguancheng No. 17 High School feeling deeply aggrieved and furious.

This damned black guy was simply too insufferable.

Their gazes toward him hardened with hostility, and they realized that these three had indeed come with ill intent.

Noticing the furious stares of the crowd, the black runner offered a faint, mocking smile, his eyes brimming with utter contempt.

This drove Zhong Haokun into a rage, his eyes glaring at the black athlete as if they were about to spit fire.

He hurried to Xu He's side and asked in a low voice, "Xu He, do you have the confidence to outrun him?"

Clearly, the young black athlete had thoroughly provoked Zhong Haokun.

Xu He and the others were greatly startled, having never seen Zhong Haokun take such an active and passionate initiative before, let alone speak with such fervor. It seemed Zhong Haokun had genuinely been incensed by this African runner today.

Everyone turned their eyes back to Xu He, awaiting his reply.

Xu He glanced casually at the African player and said, "Though this kid runs pretty fast, I don't think I'll necessarily lose. I should be faster than him!"

As he spoke, Xu He's gaze was unwavering and filled with absolute confidence.

Hearing this, the crowd was instantly thrilled and energized.

They immediately chimed in, "Then go ahead and race him, Lao Xu! Teach this damn guy a proper lesson and show him what we from Jinguancheng No. 17 High School are made of!"

Xu He was also somewhat stirred; he indeed harbored a desire to put this arrogant runner in his place.

Just at that moment, however, the head coach of the school team, Yangtong Mingxiong, arrived at the scene with his coaching staff. Xu Dongsheng shouted at the top of his lungs, "Is everyone here? If everyone is here, hurry up and assemble over here! Quick, quick, quick!"

Seeing this, disappointment rippled through the crowd—it was clear the race wasn't going to happen now.

Missing the chance to put the black runner in his place left everyone feeling deflated.

Still, nobody dared to disobey Xu Dongsheng, and they quickly drifted toward the podium to assemble.

With the experience from their first session, they found their positions swiftly this time and completed the assembly in no time at all. Yangtong Mingxiong and the others on the stage were quite satisfied, nodding in approval. Of course, they didn't offer any verbal praise.

Yangtong Mingxiong took two steps forward and announced directly, "Before today's training begins, I'd like to introduce three new teammates to everyone."

Hearing this, Xu He and the others turned their heads in unison to look at the three figures standing off to the side. Just as they had guessed, these three were indeed the "catfish" Yangtong Mingxiong had brought in from elsewhere.

Yangtong Mingxiong continued, "These three are players I brought from the U14 youth team of the Jinguancheng Phoenix Bird Club. Starting today, they will transfer to our school and join the Jinguancheng No. 17 High School school team!"

At this revelation, a bitter taste lingered in the hearts of Xu He and the others.

Do you think our strength is so utterly pathetic, and that relying on us holds no future, which is why you went hunting for players in a professional club's youth academy?

They felt deeply offended.

Yangtong Mingxiong immediately motioned to the three standing nearby, saying, "You three, step forward and introduce yourselves!"