Chapter 103: The Bird-Hunting Tactic

Geng Haoshi caught the basketball that Zhu Di had lobbed high with his right hand... Just then, a pair of large hands suddenly appeared before his eyes!

"Kid, don’t even think about pulling off any tricks over my head!" It was the opposing team's number 5, who, relying on his height advantage, leapt with all his might just as Geng Haoshi reached the peak of his jump, blocking both hands right in front of Geng Haoshi’s face!

Without hesitation, Geng Haoshi stretched the ball out to the furthest point with his right hand, then abruptly pulled it back, pouring all his strength into pressing the basketball down, driving straight for the rim!

"Bang!"

The ball went through the hoop with a resounding sound.

Geng Haoshi hung from the rim with one hand, suspended in midair, while, at the same time, the opposing number 5 crashed hard onto the floor beneath him.

Releasing his grip and landing back on the court, Geng Haoshi glanced at number 5, spread his hands, and said, "Sorry, but I’m just that kind of reckless person."

With that, Geng Haoshi turned and headed back to his side of the court.

"Nicely done!" Zhu Di clapped a hand on Geng Haoshi’s shoulder, full of admiration for his performance.

"Actually, that last shot was me," Geng Haoshi 2.0 spoke up at that moment.

"Yeah, I realized that too," 9527 responded.

9527: Master, how did you let Geng Haoshi 2.0 take over just now? And he only appeared for three seconds before disappearing again?

At first, it was due to 9527’s "powerful energy boost" that one of Geng Haoshi’s multiple personalities, Geng Haoshi 2.0, was triggered. Previously, whenever Geng Haoshi 2.0 appeared, it was because 9527 used the "powerful energy boost."

But this time, Geng Haoshi hadn’t signaled 9527 to use the "powerful energy boost" to switch to Geng Haoshi 2.0, yet Geng Haoshi 2.0 did emerge for three seconds—the very span from leaping to the alley-oop dunk.

Geng Haoshi: I don’t know, I found it strange too.

Geng Haoshi 2.0: With your IQ, it’s not surprising you don’t know.

Geng Haoshi was left speechless.

Geng Haoshi 2.0: Just now, I heard a voice, and then was forcibly pulled out... It felt like someone suddenly took control of me, made me complete the dunk, then vanished again.

Geng Haoshi: Could it have been Geng Haoshi 3.0?

Note: Geng Haoshi 3.0 was triggered during Geng Haoshi’s evaluation match with boxing coach Tony.

9527: Not him; I have his bio-neural pulse frequency on record. If he appeared, I’d know instantly.

Geng Haoshi: Then who could it be? Was another of my personalities triggered?

9527: That’s unlikely too. If it were, their bio-neural pulse frequency would differ from the three I have on record. I’d still be able to sense it.

Geng Haoshi: That’s really odd...

The above was a conversation between Geng Haoshi, Geng Haoshi 2.0, and 9527, held via their minds. Because it was an exchange of thoughts, the dialogue happened much faster than normal speech.

As Geng Haoshi held this mental conversation, the opposing team’s number 1 had already dribbled into Tiancheng Institute of Technology’s half.

Geng Haoshi and his teammates maintained their full-court man-to-man defense, sticking closely to each opposing player, tangling with them relentlessly.

Thanks to the grueling training regimen imposed by Yu Manman over the past half year, their physical condition had improved dramatically. Previously, if they’d tried this full-court man-to-man strategy, they’d have been exhausted and out of breath in under five minutes.

Now, Geng Haoshi and his teammates blocked out the opposition, their arms swinging and flailing rapidly, just as they’d drilled in practice.

Clearly, the five starting players from Wanlong University of Transportation were already getting frustrated by the constantly waving arms before them. Without good shooting opportunities, they grew anxious and began to force passes.

Once the opponents got flustered, cracks would appear. And once there was a crack, it was time to counterattack.

Sure enough, when their number 2 lobbed the ball to number 5 in haste, his pass was too weak, and Meng Lang seized the opening, leaping high to intercept the ball.

Meng Lang, having secured possession, immediately turned and dribbled into the opposing half.

Although all five starters from Wanlong University of Transportation were tall and imposing, their speed was not lacking either. They quickly fell back on defense.

Geng Haoshi eyed the five players, each at least 185 centimeters tall, thinking: Their height advantage is overwhelming; if we pass overhead, it’ll just get intercepted... Wait, we can use the "bird strike tactic!"

"Captain!" Geng Haoshi shouted to Meng Lang.

When Meng Lang looked his way, Geng Haoshi pointed at his own groin.

Meng Lang broke into a sweat, thinking: We’re in the middle of a game, what kind of crude joke is Xiao Er making?!

Seeing Meng Lang didn’t respond, Geng Haoshi called out again: "Captain!"

When Meng Lang looked over again, Geng Haoshi pointed at his groin once more, then mimed slamming something into it.

"Oh—" At last, Meng Lang grasped Geng Haoshi’s meaning.

The other teammates had noticed this exchange as well. Though they hadn’t understood the first time, by the second gesture, Geng Haoshi’s intent was clear to all.

Facing the taller number 5 blocking his way, Meng Lang quickly bent low and zipped the ball to Xu Gaofeng, who was stationed near the free-throw line.

As Xu Gaofeng caught the pass, the opposing number 4 moved in to defend.

Xu Gaofeng didn’t try to drive into the paint; instead, he immediately whipped the ball low to Zhu Di, positioned at the other end of the free-throw line.

Throughout these passes, the Wanlong University of Transportation players’ height advantage was negated. Their high center of gravity left them unable to react in time to Tiancheng Institute of Technology’s sharp, low passes.

The so-called "bird strike tactic" was a low-passing technique Geng Haoshi and his teammates had specially drilled. The passes skimmed just above or below the groin. Once, Coach Lin Ling had seen them practicing these low passes and started shouting, "Hit his little bird!" And so Geng Haoshi dubbed this style the "bird strike tactic."

"Zhu Di!"

As Zhu Di received the pass from Xu Gaofeng, he heard Geng Haoshi’s voice.

Taking advantage of the defenders’ attention being drawn to the ball as it zipped back and forth, Geng Haoshi had quietly slipped beneath the basket. When he saw the ball reach Zhu Di, he leapt high from his spot.

Zhu Di, seeing Geng Haoshi jumping, immediately understood. He sent the ball flying toward Geng Haoshi...