Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 55: All Fighting for Survival

One to one. The Class Sixteen soccer team had once again managed to score with what seemed like a lucky chance, equalizing with their opponent, earning a point, and maintaining their unbeaten record in the group.

To be honest, Xu He really couldn’t make sense of this team anymore.

If you said they were weak, they’d gone undefeated in three games with two wins and a draw. But if you claimed they were strong, in each of those matches they had barely managed to get into their opponent’s half, and their three goals weren’t exactly convincing.

It was truly a strange team.

It wasn’t just Xu He—Zhu Ge and Mu Yang were equally baffled.

Mu Yang’s brow furrowed, unable to wrap his head around it.

Zhu Ge and Lin Xuefeng exchanged wry smiles, clearly just as confused by the situation.

Indeed, this was a truly peculiar team.

Everyone, however, had reached a consensus: Zhuo Jun from the Class Sixteen soccer team was truly outstanding, perhaps the best center-back in all of Jinguancheng Seventeenth High.

Zhuo Jun was the backbone of their defense, the key reason they'd only conceded a single goal in three games.

Even Zhu Ge felt a twinge of envy that Class Sixteen had a player like Zhuo Jun.

Right then, Zhu Ge was considering whether, at the end of this season, he should try to recruit Zhuo Jun to his own team. If that happened, the Class Ten soccer team would be truly invincible—a real “Galácticos” among the school’s teams.

The thought had already taken root, and Zhu Ge was set on making it happen. For now, though, his focus remained on the league.

Everyone was paying close attention to the upcoming match. They wanted to see if Yang Hao’s playing style would change at all, since this game was crucial for qualifying for the next round.

Would Yang Hao still stick stubbornly to his ways with a spot in the next stage on the line?

Xu He was especially interested, his eyes fixed on Yang Hao. He genuinely thought Yang Hao was extremely skilled and distinctive—but also a bit too much of a lone wolf.

Maybe that was the curse of the truly gifted?

The Class Sixteen and Class Fourteen teams had drawn one to one, giving a sigh of relief to the players about to take the field. Their chances of advancing were still alive, and not at all slim; both teams were full of motivation.

At this stage, Class Sixteen topped the group with two wins and a draw, unbeaten with seven points. Second was Class Fourteen, undefeated but with three consecutive draws and only three points. The two teams about to face off each had one point, but still had this last match to fight for.

If Class Six and the Joint Team of Class Seventeen drew, both would be eliminated, and Class Fourteen would advance as group runners-up. But if either team managed a win, Class Fourteen would be knocked out, and the victor would advance with second place.

Thus, this was a do-or-die match for both Class Six and the Joint Team.

Both sides had only one goal: victory.

Even before kickoff, the tense and forbidding atmosphere was palpable. Both teams radiated a chilling fighting spirit that made Xu He’s scalp tingle.

Li Jie, already a little excited, turned to Xu He and asked, “Old Xu, who do you think will win this one?”

Zhu Ge, Mu Yang, and the others all looked over at Xu He.

They couldn’t help but value Xu He’s opinion—his predictions had been so accurate, almost prophetic. In the last match, hardly anyone believed in Class Sixteen, except for Xu He, and they really did manage to pull off a draw.

How could they not value Xu He’s opinion?

Everyone stared at him expectantly, waiting for his insight.

Xu He studied the two teams carefully and said, “Honestly, I really don’t know which side will win. Personally, I’m still leaning toward Yang Hao—his skill is undeniable. But his flaws are just as obvious, and that leaves me conflicted…”

In truth, everyone shared Xu He’s mixed feelings.

Still, they had to admit that the Joint Team’s two full-backs had excellent attacking ability. If only their strikers performed halfway decently, they might well win.

After a moment’s thought, Xu He added, “Still, I think Class Six has a better shot. They should take it.”

Although Xu He supported Yang Hao, his impression of him wasn’t entirely positive.

After that friendly match, Yang Hao’s arrogance and disregard for others had left Xu He with no fondness for him. Even so, he had to admit Yang Hao’s skills were enviable—he wished he could play like that himself.

So, in Xu He’s eyes, Class Six had the edge.

The others smiled wryly; clearly, Xu He’s views were again at odds with theirs.

Zhu Ge immediately turned to Li Jie. “Li Jie, what do you think? Do you agree with Xu He?”

Li Jie shook his head at once. “I’m not optimistic about Class Six. Yang Hao is too much of a soloist—he has no faith in his teammates. Of course, his teammates are pretty bad, so I get where he’s coming from. But football is a team sport, after all, so…”

Zhu Ge nodded. “I agree with you.”

Lin Xuefeng chimed in, “I’m with Li Jie on this.”

Zhang Zhen said, “I think the two teams advancing from this group will be Class Sixteen and Class Fourteen.”

Everyone turned to Zhang Zhen in surprise—another outlier opinion.

Zhang Zhen was actually betting on a draw?

That seemed like the least likely result. Both teams would be fighting tooth and nail for a place in the next round—a draw was almost impossible.

Zhu Ge laughed. “Thunderbolt Zhen, have you opened your third eye and seen the outcome already?”

Other than that, Zhu Ge really couldn’t imagine why Zhang Zhen would hold this view.

Zhang Zhen chuckled. “Believe it or not, let’s just watch the game.”

Mu Yang, meanwhile, had been silent throughout, his attention lingering on Zhuo Jun at the sidelines—clearly, his mind was still on the previous match.

After the last match, the players from Class Sixteen and Fourteen hadn’t left, but sat on the sidelines to watch the next game.

The Class Fourteen team, in particular, was watching closely.

Their fate was now in the hands of the two teams about to play. Naturally, they hoped for a draw, securing them a place in the next round.

It was agonizing.

Many of the Class Fourteen players regretted not pushing harder in the previous match to claim victory. They regretted not making the most of their advantage in the second half, not launching an all-out attack.

Had they attacked more relentlessly, they might well have scored a second goal and all but guaranteed a win. They should never have let the idea of playing for a draw cloud their thinking.

They had played it too safe and lost the initiative.

A real shame.

Now, all they could do was watch and hope for the mercy of others.

Xu He also felt sorry for the Class Fourteen team—they had come so close to advancing. If they had played more proactively in the second half, they might well have gone through.

So, never give up the initiative lightly.

That was the lesson Xu He took from the last match—a reminder to fight to the end in every game to come.

Soon, the match began.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, it didn’t start out as a brutal, cutthroat battle; rather, it was quite calm and composed.

Both sides clearly understood the importance of this match and played cautiously.

At the start, both teams probed each other, neither launching any reckless attacks or giving the other an opening.

Xu He and the others were surprised; they hadn’t expected this.

To be honest, neither team was known for strong defense or a cautious style, yet here they were, playing it safe. It showed just how much this match meant to them.

In such crucial moments, caution prevails.

Xu He’s eyes fell on Yang Hao. He nodded slightly—Yang Hao was being true to himself. Even though both teams were still testing each other, Xu He could sense the aggressive fire simmering inside Yang Hao, ready to burst into a storm of attacks.

Yang Hao was clearly itching to break loose.

By contrast, the Joint Team appeared more mature, rigorously following their pre-match strategy.

These were two very different teams—distinct in both style and character.

Sure enough, five minutes in, Yang Hao couldn’t hold back any longer and made the first move. He took the ball and went solo, launching his own personal hero’s charge.

It really was like a lone warrior cutting through a thousand troops. The Joint Team’s players were momentarily overawed by Yang Hao’s momentum.

He burst through three players in midfield, spun past a fourth with a Marseille turn, and unleashed a powerful shot, the ball screaming toward the goal.

Xu He immediately jumped to his feet, applauding Yang Hao.

Yang Hao played with such flair—his moves were visually dazzling, leaving a powerful impression. Xu He was thrilled and couldn’t help but give him a mental thumbs-up.

The ball flew straight toward the top right corner of the goal.

The Joint Team’s goalkeeper, wearing a baseball cap and a purple scarf tied around his arm, made a dramatic leap, diving toward the ball in a stylish save.